UN says no to fresh contingent of India peacekeepers in Congo

New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) The UN has asked India not to
send a replacement for one of its peacekeeping contingents
in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), close on the heels
of some Indian security personnel facing charges of sexual
misconduct there.

"An IAF team deployed under MONUC (UN mission in Congo)
will be completing its tenure there next month. UN has asked
us not to send its replacement," IAF sources told PTI here.

Though the UN, the sources said, has not mentioned the
reasons behind the decision but it comes after the DRC
government reportedly accused the Indian troops of abusing of
powers and asked the UN not to increase their number there.

The UN has announced that it will strengthen its
presence in DRC by another 3,000 troops.

In an alleged sex-for-cash scandal, around 10 Indian
Army soldiers from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles deployed in
DRC were accused of having sex with prostitutes last year.

The United Nations code of conduct in Congo prohibits
peacekeepers from soliciting prostitutes.

Around 200 personnel including officers and personnel
below officer ranks (PBORs) from the IAF were being trained
for going as replacements in April and were in the final
stages of preparations when India was informed about UN's
decision, the sources said.

"With our troops coming back, number of our
helicopters in the war-torn country will also come down," the
sources said.

The IAF has deployed three of its teams in DRC
including over 500 personnel and eight attack and 11 transport
helicopters.

Its teams are located in Goma, Kingali and Kindu
providing air support to troops on ground. India contributes
the highest number of troops for the over-18,000 strong MONUC
followed by Bangladesh and Pakistan.

MONUC is the only UN mission where an Indian soldier
Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria was awarded the Param Vir
Chakra for outstanding gallantry in 1961 in the Katanga
province. PTI AJD
SAK
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