The Hindu : National : Siachen heroes for Sudan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 28, 2006

National

National

Siachen heroes for Sudan

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India will send the Siachen heroes, 8 Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry, for United Nations peacekeeping duty in civil war-hit Sudan. This is the first time India is sending troops there.

8 JAK LI, parent unit of Param Vir Chakra awardee Bana Singh, was the first to detect Pakistani intruders in the glacier.

In 1987, a special task, including Bana Singh, stormed a seemingly impregnable Pakistani post atop the 1,200 plus-foot high glacier and set up an Indian post. It has been named the Bana post. That operation led to India occupying vantage positions on the glacier.

Since then the battalion has acquitted itself well in counter-insurgency operations and won several gallantry awards. The 1/5 Gorkha Rifles will be the force reserve battalion.

India is sending three infantry battalions along with an infantry brigade headquarters to replace its troops serving in Congo under the U.N. flag.

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