Three Indian peacekeepers killed, seven hurt in Congo

NEW DELHI - Three Indian soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping force in the Congo were killed and seven injured when their camp was ambushed by rebels early Wednesday, the defence ministry here said.

“Three of our men were killed and seven injured when Mayi rebels attacked their camp at Kirumba,” a ministry official said. The soldiers belong to the 19 Kumaon Regiment.

“At about 1.50 a.m. (Congo Standard Time), under the cover of darkness, the unit’s operating base at Kirumba was approached by five innocent looking civilians. They asked the post for assistance,” the official said.

“While they were engaging the guard on duty in conversation, a group of approximately 50-60 Mayi rebels attacked the periphery of the post from the surrounding jungle.

“The firing lasted for approximately five minutes before the rebels merged into the forest, taking advantage of darkness,” the official said.

Kirumba is located some 500 km from Congo’s capital Kinshasa.

Some 2,700 Indian soldiers serve with MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping force in the Congo that is commanded by an Indian Army officer, Lt. Gen. Chander Prakash. The Indian Air Force has also deployed a squadron of MI-35 helicopter gunships with the Indian mission.

Over 8,000 personnel of the Indian armed forces are currently deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in places like Sudan, the Ethiopia/Eritria region, Lebanon and the Golan Heights.

In the 60 years since Indian involvement with UN peacekeeping operations began with the supervision of the Korean armistice in 1950, over 45,000 armed forces personnel have served on these missions.