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Gurkha killed in Helmand named | Gurkha killed in Helmand named |
(10 minutes later) | |
A Nepalese Gurkha killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan has been named as Colour Sgt Krishnabahadur Dura. | |
The 36-year-old, from 2nd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles, was from Lamjung District of western Nepal. | |
Colour Sgt Dura died when the Warrior vehicle in which he was travelling struck an explosive device in Helmand province on Saturday. | |
The blast was the first fatal attack on a Warrior in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said. | The blast was the first fatal attack on a Warrior in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said. |
His death in Musa Qala, Helmand, takes the number of UK troops killed in Afghanistan since the launch of operations in 2001 to 125. | |
Lt Col Chris Darby, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles, described Colour Sgt Dura as "an exceptional soldier, a gifted leader and consummate professional". | |
'Bold and noble' | |
He said: "Intelligent, hard and totally committed, I knew that whatever the challenge I could turn to Colour Sgt Dura and have absolute confidence in his ability to deliver. | |
"His knowledge of his trade and of his men was without parallel, and the team he forged based on this knowledge and his own commitment was second to none." | |
He said Colour Sgt Dura's snipers were, and continued to be, one of the battalion's "most potent capabilities". | |
"Their strengths are due almost entirely to his own ability as a soldier, a leader and commander. | |
"I was extremely proud to have known this bold and noble man and will miss him. He will not be forgotten." | |
Defence Secretary John Hutton praised Colour Sgt Dura's courage. | |
He said: "It is clear that Colour Sgt Dura served with professionalism and courage and was wholly committed to his mission; he was helping Afghanistan and the cause of wider security. | |
"My thoughts are with his family, friends and fellow Gurkhas at this sad time." | |
The soldier's death is the second from the battalion in just over two weeks. | The soldier's death is the second from the battalion in just over two weeks. |
Rifleman Yubraj Rai, 28, was killed on 4 November when his patrol was attacked, also in Musa Qala. | |
Britain has about 8,000 troops in Afghanistan. It is the second-largest contributor of foreign forces in the country after the United States. | Britain has about 8,000 troops in Afghanistan. It is the second-largest contributor of foreign forces in the country after the United States. |