3 Indian peacekeepers honoured with UN medal

Three Indian UN peacekeepers will be honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal for their supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at a solemn ceremony at the UN headquarters.

"We salute our fallen heroes, and their bravery and offer our deepest respects," the Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said ahead of the ceremony to honour the peacekeepers of the United Nations.

The three Indians include Border Security Force personnel head Constables Shishupal Singh and Samwali Ram Vishnoi, who served with the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Shaber Taher Ali, who was employed in a civilian capacity with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq.
Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi deployed as part of a United Nations mission at Butembo, Congo, since June 2, 2022--were among five people killed during an anti-UN protest in the eastern city of Goma near the strife-torn country's border with Uganda. While Shishupal hailed from Sikar, Vishnoi belonged to Barmer.
India has deployed more than 275,000 troops, including a significant number of women peacekeepers, in over 51 UN peacekeeping missions.
The medal is the highest honour awarded to UN Peacekeepers who have distinguished themselves by exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and sacrifice in the cause of peace.
In his message honouring the extraordinary contributions of UN peacekeepers to international peace and security, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world. For 75 years, they have supported people and communities rocked by conflict and upheaval across the globe."

(ANI)