Lt. Col. among five Indian peacekeepers killed in South Sudan

Mangaloretoday/DHNS

New Delhi, April 9, 2013 : Five Indian UN peacekeepers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, were killed and four injured by rebels in South Sudan, the external affairs ministry said Tuesday.

"Peacekeepers from India in UNMISS (United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan) attacked in Jonglei. Five dead and four wounded," ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.

 

 

Elaborating on the incident, Akbaruddin said: "It happened this morning about 8:30 a.m. The convoy carrying 32 Indian soldiers was attacked by rebels. There were five casualties, including a Lieutenant Colonel, a JCO (junior commissioner officer) and three soldiers. Four others have been wounded."

"We were informed that there were five casualties of Indian battalion that was attached to the UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan. They were escorting a UN convoy in the volatile state of Jonglei in South Sudan," he told a TV channel.

"The casualties, including the injured, are being brought back by the UN by helicopters from Jonglei to Juba (the capital of South Sudan)," Akbarudddin said.

He said the Indian ambassador in South Sudan, along an officer of the Army Medical Corps, is waiting at the Juba airport to receive the bodies and the injured.

"The first priority will be emergency treatment for the injured and they will be sent to UN mission hospital in South Sudan and then as per the advise of the medical team, they then will be transferred appropriately," he said.

"With respect to those who have paid the highest price and laid down their lives, our embassy will work with the UN to bring back their bodies to India," he said.

Akbaruddin said the Indian embassy is in touch with the UN on the issue.
"We have 2,200 India personnel in South Sudan. Our embassy is in touch with UN representative on this matter," he added.