At least five Indian soldiers including an officer, part of a UN peacekeeping mission, were killed in an attack by rebels in the volatile state of Jonglei in South Sudan on Tuesday.

New Delhi, April 9/Nationalturk-  At least five Indian soldiers including an officer, part of a UN peacekeeping mission, were killed in an attack by revels in the volatile state of Jonglei in South Sudan on Tuesday.

“A convoy of Indian peace keepers, comprising 32 soldiers, was attacked by suspected militia group with small arms and Rocket-propelled Grenades (RPGs) at Gurmuck in Jonglei state of South Sudan at around 0930 local time today,” Indian army sources said.

They said the Indian soldiers also returned the fire and fierce exchange of fire between the two sides continued for more than an hour. “In the ensuing firefight, five Indian soldiers including a Lt Colonel and a Junior Commission Officer were killed. Four soldiers including an officer were injured in the attack and have been hospitalized.”

Injured soldiers shifted to UN hospital

Sources said the injured soldiers and officer have been shifted to UN mission hospital in South Sudan. “The arrangements are being made to shift the bodies of the dead soldiers to India as early as possible”.

They said around 2200 Indian soldiers and officers are deployed in South Sudan under a UN peacekeeping mission.

Since South Sudan got independence in July 2011, it has witnessed ethnic strife, with Pibor county, the main base of UN peacekeeping force, being the centre of much of the violence.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News

 

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