BRAVERY MEDAL FOR GURKHA WHO FOUGHT OFF 30 TALIBAN IN AMBUSH

A HERO who took on Taliban attackers under overwhelming odds believing he was about to be killed yesterday received one of the highest military honours for bravery.

Corporal Dipprasad Pun was presented with the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross by the Queen for his part in seeing off 30 heavily armed insurgents.

His award is second only to the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest honour for bravery in the face of the enemy.

Cpl Pun, 31, was spurred on by the belief he was going to die and so had nothing to lose when he took on the attackers who overran his checkpoint in Afghanistan.

Cpl Pun received one of the highest medals for bravery from the Queen

The NCO from 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles, fired more than 400 rounds, launched 17 grenades and detonated a mine to thwart the Taliban assault on his position near Babaji in Helmand Province last September.

After exhausting all his ammunition, he used the tripod of his machine gun to beat off a militant who was climbing the walls of the compound, shouting as he did so the Nepali threat “marchu talai” – “I will kill you.”

Kent campaigner launches petition to ‘save’ Gurkhas

BBC News

A campaigner who fought for the right of former Gurkhas to settle in the UK has launched a petition to defend the

The Royal Gurkha Rifles are based in Folkestone

regiment from defence cuts.

Peter Carroll said he did not want to see the Gurkhas “sacrificed” following speculation that they were vulnerable in the government’s spending review.

Mr Carroll, a councillor in Folkestone, Kent, where the Royal Gurkha Rifles are based, led Joanna Lumley’s campaign.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said speculation on the review is unfounded.

The government’s strategic defence and security review (SDSR) is due to report in October.