Five slain Indian peacekeepers to be honoured by UN

Five Indians are among over 100 fallen peacekeepers who will be honoured by the UN for their "bravery" during operations last year across the world.


More than 100 blue helmets who lost their lives in the past months while serving the cause of peace will be honoured on the International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers on Wednesday, a UN statement said today.

In a message to mark the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, "One hundred and eleven peacekeeping personnel died last year and more than 3,100 have lost their lives in the UN's 65-year history of peacekeeping. We salute their bravery and mourn their passing."

The UN has named the peacekeepers who died in 2012 and five are from India.

Subedar Jagdish Chand, Naik Krishan Kumar, Naik Dharam Pal Saini and Lance Havlidar Rajinder Singh lost their lives serving with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Lance Dafadar Ravindera Poonia was killed in Lebanon. India deployed more than 3,000 troops in UN mission in Congo to help maintain peace in the conflict-ridden country. The country is the third largest contributor of peacekeepers to the UN with 7,795 serving worldwide.

Commemorative activities will be held at UN Headquarters in New York as well as at UN peacekeeping operations and offices around the world.