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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

18 December 2008

On the 15 November Colour Sergeant Krishnabahadur Dura of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles was killed in Afghanistan. He was taking part in a road move in the Musa Qala district of Helmand Province when the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle he was travelling in was struck by an explosive device.

Colour Sergeant Dura was a very experienced and exceptionally capable Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. He had served in operations in Bosnia, Herzegovina, East Timor, twice in Sierra Leone and was on his third tour to Afghanistan.

After his death his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Darby said: “Colour Sergeant Krishna was an exceptional soldier, a gifted leader and consummate professional. I was extremely proud to have known this bold and noble man and will miss him. He will not be forgotten.”

The Secretary of State for Defence, John Hutton, said: “It is clear that Colour Sergeant Krishnabahadur 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.”

You be wondering why I am writing about Colour Sergeant Dura again, given that a month has passed since his death.

The reason is that, unbelievably, the Home Office are now seeking to deport his widow and their two children to Nepal.

They live in Canterbury and Julian Brazier, MP for Canterbury, and I have been urging the Home Office to change its mind.

When a tragedy like this occurs and people like the Secretary of State for Defence say, “Our thoughts are with his family”, we should hold them to their words.

I shall certainly do all I can to ensure that Mrs Dura and her children are allowed to stay in this country.