400 Indian troops under siege in Sierra Leone

The encirclement of the part of the Indian peacekeeping contingent comes as New Delhi is reportedly getting worried over the adverse situation in the West African nation where more than 3,000 Indian troops, airforcemen and policemen are involved as part of 10,000 strong U N peacekeeping force.

The encirclement of the Gorkha contingent comes even as RUF cadres are still holding 20 Indian soliders as hostages in northern Sierra Leone.

While the rebel forces have let off all other United Nations peacekeeper hostages, the Indian soldiers who include two officers, one JCO and 17 of other ranks are being held captive for more than nine weeks.

Lt Col J Sandhu, military spokesman of the UNASMIL, said "two companies of Gorkha soldiers have been surrounded by the RUF".

He said that these companies, in the face of the blockade by RUF had consolidated at one position in order to repel any attack on them.