- विज्ञापन -
United Nations: Two Indian peacekeepers, Brigadier Amitabh Jha and Havildar Sanjay Singh, were posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medals in recognition of their service and sacrifice. The medals were presented by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to India’s Permanent Representative, P Harish, during a ceremony honoring peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Brigadier Jha served as the acting force commander of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) stationed in the Golan Heights, where he was responsible for monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Syria following the 1973 conflict. Guterres highlighted Jha’s leadership during complex circumstances, especially after the fall of the Assad government in Syria, and noted his prior service in MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The citation praised Jha’s pivotal role in managing security during the Syrian crisis in December 2024, when the region faced increased pressure from multiple parties, including Israel and Syrian factions. The citation described him as a resolute leader admired by colleagues and critics alike.
Havildar Sanjay Singh served in MONUSCO and lost his life while serving in Gaza. The citation noted that he was working as a security coordinator for the UN when he was killed in an attack by Israeli forces in Gaza’s Rafah region.
Friday marked the 77th UN Peacekeepers Day, a day dedicated to honoring the efforts of over 61,000 peacekeepers worldwide, including 5,375 from India. In New Delhi, the Indian Army observed the occasion with a ceremony at the National War Memorial, led by Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor, to commemorate 182 Indian peacekeepers who died during UN missions.
