Two Indian peacekeepers posthumously awarded UN Dag Hammarskjöld medals
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In a ceremony held at the United Nations Headquarters, two Indian peacekeepers were posthumously awarded the prestigious Dag Hammarskjöld medals for their dedicated service and sacrifice in UN peacekeeping missions.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P Harish, accepted the medals on behalf of the fallen heroes—Brigadier Amitabh Jha and Havildar Sanjay Singh—from UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The event, held on Thursday (US time), was part of the observance of the 77th International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
Brigadier Amitabh Jha had served as the acting Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which was tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Syria following the 1973 conflict.
“Jha served as acting Force Commander of UNDOF in complex circumstances, following the fall of the Assad Government in Syria,” Guterres said during the ceremony. “He will be remembered for his leadership and unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping, including in the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) as a military observer from 2005 to 2006.”
According to a citation provided by India, Brigadier Jha “played a pivotal role in managing a critical security situation which evolved during the Syrian crisis in December 2024.” That month marked a turning point when the Assad government in Damascus collapsed, placing increased pressure on the UNDOF-monitored border area due to tensions from both Israeli forces and various Syrian factions.
“Jha was a man who stood his ground—as was evident from the way he handled affairs of UNDOF as the acting force commander. He will be admired by his friends and detractors,” the citation added.
Havildar Sanjay Singh was serving with MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the time of his death. His contribution to global peace and security was also commemorated with the same honour.
India also acknowledged the death of Waibhav Anil Kale, a retired Indian Army colonel who was working with the UN in a civilian role. Kale lost his life in Gaza in 2024 when the vehicle he was travelling in was attacked by Israeli forces in the Rafah region. He had been serving as a security service coordinator for the United Nations.
Back in India, a tribute ceremony was held at the National War Memorial in New Delhi to honour the memories of Indian peacekeepers who have died while serving UN missions. The event was led by Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, and paid homage to the 182 Indian peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the line of duty under the UN flag.
India, which currently contributes 5,375 peacekeepers to UN missions, continues to be one of the largest troop-contributing countries in the world.