Posted on 01/27/2011 1:51:21 PM PST by Starman417
The legendary heroics of Gurkha warriors lives on to this day. Last September 2nd, 40 train robbers found themselves outnumbered by a lone, retired Gurkha soldier. Yesterday (India's Republic Day) he received further honor and accolades for his gallantry by the Indian government, bestowing upon him its Sourya Chakra, Bravery Award, and Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Medal.
The band of about 40 robbers, some of whom were travelling as passengers, stopped the train in the Chittaranjan jungles in West Bengal around midnight. Shrestha-- who had boarded the train at Ranchi in Jharkhand, the place of his posting--was in seat no. 47 in coach AC3.They started snatching jewelry, cell phones, cash, laptops and other belongings from the passengers, Shrestha recalled. The soldier had somehow remained a silent spectator amidst the melee, but not for long. He had had enough when the robbers stripped an 18-year-old girl sitting next to him and tried to rape her right in front of her parents. He then took out his khukuri and took on the robbers.
(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...
Post from last night about this with lots of comments:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2663935/posts
Its telling how the soldier said that if he hadn’t had his kukri on him, he would have remained a ‘silent spectator’. It says a lot about the wickedness of disarming law-abiding citizens when even a Gurkha appears to balk at the idea of taking 40 armed robbers with just his bare hands.
Even the psychological effect of just having a weapon would persuade more people to do the right thing when confronted with evil...
That guy could never sneak up on you. The sound of his balls clanging together would give away his position.
The psychological effect of having the weapon no doubt gave him some of the courage to do what he did.
Excellent point!
"Sir."
Shouldn’t that be “Never bring a Gun to a Kukri fight?
IIRC some of the robbers may have had handguns.
An unarmed man is just another victim.
I love my kukri. One of the best weapons and tools I own and it only cost about $20 bucks.
No doubt in my mind. He plainly said that being armed gave him the courage to act.
He ran toward the sounds of the gunfire, not away. - The shy woman who wasn’t armed who grabbed the spare magazine from the shooter has to be highly commended. She refused the recognition of the press. (At least I don’t think she was armed.)
How do you carry it concealed?
I can’t carry it concealed. But it does fit under the car seat very nicely. With a blade over 12”s long it’s a little shaky to have it at all legally according to the laws that cover knives. But if I am out camping what can anyone say? I can carry a hatchet for chopping firewood but not a kukri? A kukri works far better than any hatchet and is even comparable to a good axe for cutting wood or felling a tree. It would be interesting to carry it on my belt and see what the reaction would be.
I remember her interview with Fox after the altercation. She said Republicans suck.
Brings to mind a story my Great-Uncle told me about Gurkas..flying the hump in Burma, Gurkas were told they had to jump from the Plane, they stood up, saluted and were ready to comply with the order..their leader came up to the cockpit door and asked if they could bring the plane down to a hundred feet to minimize casualties. It was only later that they understood they would be issued parachutes.
“A kukri works far better than any hatchet and is even comparable to a good axe for cutting wood or felling a tree. It would be interesting to carry it on my belt and see what the reaction would be.”
I’ve got a couple I brought back from Nepal. One was made by a smith near Phuplu in the Himalayas and the other was a reproduction military Kukri from Kathmandu. I used the mountain Kukri around the farm (it’s about 14”) to trim branches and it’s fearsome. It’s easy to sharpen (carbon steel) and stays deadly sharp. It just works great and slices through limbs like butter. The Sherpas showed me the correct way to draw it out in case it sliced right through the sheath. They don’t revere their Smiths like we do here.
Bookmark.
Mine was made in India and is also carbon steel and sharpens easily. It’s razor sharp and yes it deals with branches like no one’s business. The sheath has fared well so far and hasn’t suffered any damage from the blade. It is a little awkward to unsheath with the belt loop designed the way it is. I have thought about adding a thigh strap to the lower end like a six gun rig has. That would make hiking with it less comfortable though.
“It is a little awkward to unsheath with the belt loop designed the way it is. I have thought about adding a thigh strap to the lower end like a six gun rig has. That would make hiking with it less comfortable though.”
I could never figure out that belt loop, so I just stuck it behind my back. I never took it hiking.
“Atlanta Cutlery and International Military Antiques are selling the real deal [Nepalese military of various vintages from the 1800s through WWII] as recovered as part of the arms stashed in an old palace.”
I’ve heard of that. The Palace had a lot of old rifles too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.