She was a Type 14 anti-submarine warfare frigate of the Indian Navy, which played an active role in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. She was sunk by PNS Hangor - a French Daphne Class submarine of the Pakistan Navy - on 09 December 1971 at 40 nautical miles off the coast of Diu, Gujarat. She went down her crew of 18 officers and 176 sailors on that fateful night. Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla chose to go down with his ship. This single act of Captain Mulla and his valiant crew is a shining example of unyielding spirit and indomitable courage, glorifying the highest traditions of the Indian Navy. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his gallant action. A memorial was built at Diu for the officers & sailors of INS Khukri who lost their lives on that ill-fated day. The memorial consists of a beautiful scale model, encased in a glass case. However the memorial is not properly maintained and the glass has fogged up so bad, that one can barely see what is inside. In a ceremony on 02 January 2006, PNS Hangor was decommissioned from the Pakistan Navy and she is planned to be converted into a museum. Vice Admiral Ahmed Tasnim, Pakistan Navy, inspected the boat for the last time during the decommissioning ceremony. Vice Admiral Tasnim was commander of PNS Hangor the day she sank INS Khukri. Images © Sandesh Kanchan