Disarmament of the Khampas

By the early 70’s, some 9000 “Khampas”(Tibetan tribesmen resisting Chinese authority) hadcrossed over to Nepal and established various highaltitude camps which they used as launch pads foroperations into the Chinese Autonomous Region ofTibet. By 1973, these fighters, initially enjoyingsubstantial foreign material and moral support, decidedto invest the remote Nepalese District of Mustang as afirm base.After various diplomatic initiatives, Nepal wasfinally compelled to carry out military operations todisarm the Khampas. A brigade sized RNA taskforceleft Pokhara on 15th June 1974. The main battle groupwas based on Shree Sri Nath Battalion and the effortincluded units or elements from:

• Shree Sri Nath Battalion

• Shree Raj Dal Battalion (Arty)

• Shree Bhairab Nath Battalion (Para)

• Shree Kali Prashad Battalion (Engineers)

• Shree Ganesh Dal Battalion (Signals)

• Shree First Rifle Battalion

• Shree Indra Dhoj Company

• Shree Ahridaman Company

• Shree Chandan Nath Company

The Indradhoj Company served as the Vanguardin the long, difficult mountain advance from Pokhara -Naudanda - Hile - Ghodepane - Dana - Ghasa - Lete- Marpha - Jomsom The RNA AirCorps played a crucial role, conducting extremelyhazardous resupply and other missions in a largelyuncharted, radar less high altitude environment.With the RNA poised to strike, if necessary,the Khampa Commander Wangdi agreed to disarm in31st July 1974. It soon became evident that Wangdihimself intended to escape, resulting in a series ofcordon and search operations resulting in the captureof:

• Rifles - 543

• Bren Guns - 75

• Sten Guns -35

• Pistols - 16

• 60 mm Mortars - 8 (385 bombs)

• 57 mm RCL - 7 (320 shells)

• Communication sets - 5

• All types of ammunition - 2,02,349.

Wangdi, however, initially managed to slip outthrough a high altitude mountain pass and movedwith his selected party of 50 - 60 towards thewestern border of Nepal, hundreds of kilometersaway. His luck ran out when reports of their attemptto loot a Nepal Police Post in Mugu (Far WesternNepal) focused the search operations.

He eventually succumbed to a RNA ambush carried out by an element of Shree Ahridaman Company inTinkerlipu on 15th Sep 1974, bringing this episode to a victorious conclusion for the RNA. It is to the creditof Nepal that the Khampas who opted to remain in Nepal were provided land and have since settled peacefully.