New Delhi, January 21
The Army today despatched its 560 men from 22 Grenadiers for Congo to be part of the Indian troops being deployed there as part of the UN Peacekeeping operations in that country.
With this latest batch of Indian Army men the total strength of Indian armed forces personnel deployed in Congo has risen to 2,850. The rest of the contingent in the African country belong to 10 Bihar and 3 Mahar regiments.
An Army spokesman said here that the task before the Indian peacekeeping mission is to establish conducive and secure environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo which continues to remain tense particularly after the recent incursions by the forces from neighbouring Rwanda.
The process of establishing a state authority by the transition government over entire Congo, where general elections are due in June, has also been very slow, the spokesman said.
Indian security forces have participated in 39 out of a total of 59 UN peacekeeping operations and have contributed over 70,000 troops over the years. The country has lost 109 lives in these operations so far, including those of police personnel.
