New Delhi/New York: Three Indian Peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving as part of UN Peacekeeping missions abroad were honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal, the highest honour awarded to UN Peacekeepers, at a solemn ceremony in the UN.
Border Security Force personnel Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi, who served with the Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and Shaber Taher Ali, who served in a civilian capacity with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), were honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal.
India’s Permanent Representative at the UN Ruchira Kamboj received the medals on their behalf at a solemn ceremony held at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, when UN observed the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
India’s Permanent Mission in the UN in a tweet said:
“The Dag Hammarskjold Medal: A symbol of valor & sacrifice.
Head Constables Shishupal Singh & Sanwala Ram Vishnoi are honored posthumously for their extraordinary courage & devotion to peace.
“PR @ruchirakamboj receives the medal on their behalf, offering her deepest respects.”
In another tweet, it said: “3 brave Indian Indian personnel will be awarded the Dag Hammarskjold Medal, in recognition of their service to humanity.”
India’s Permanent Representative at the UN Ruchira Kamboj in a tweet said:
“Today, I received the Dag Hammarksjold Medals for Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi.
“They are immortalized by their selfless sacrifice, devotion to duty and dauntless courage, and will always serve as an inspiration for us.
“Jai Hind.”
The two BSF head constables were killed in July last year when violent protests broke out targeting the UN Peacekeeping Base in the DR Congo’s North Kivu province, as part of anti-UN protests across the African country.
The protesters forcibly entered the UN bases and engaged in looting and destruction of UN property.
MONUSCO said that the attackers violently snatched weapons from government security personnel and “fired point-blank at and around peacekeeping forces”.
