Sexual and child abuse: Army orders probe against Indian soldiers in Congo

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Army orders probe against Indian soldiers in Congo

13 Aug 2008, 0800 hrs IST,AGENCIES

NEW DELHI: The Army has ordered a probe into allegations of Indian

peacekeepers in Congo indulging in sexual and child abuse weeks after

the charges surfaced that had left defence authorities red faced. (

Watch )

The probe is being conducted by a senior Army officer posted in the

central African state, top Army officials said on late Tuesday night.

The order for the probe was given by Army's Vice-Chief Lt Gen M L

Naidu, who was on a four-day visit to Congo recently to meet the

troops deployed for the UN peacekeeping mission there.

UN officials have said the alleged incidents took place in North Kivu

province, where UN troops have been policing a shaky ceasefire

between rival rebel and militia factions and government troops.

The allegations surfaced after the UN mission in Congo came under

heavy scrutiny due to a report by Human Rights Watch earlier this

year, which accused it of covering up allegations of Pakistani and

Indian troops' involvement in alleged arms and gold smuggling in

eastern Congo.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, " an internal UN investigation

has found evidence that some Indian peacekeepers may have engaged in

sexual exploitation and abuse in Congo " .

In a statement issued by his spokeswoman's office, Ban said he

was " deeply troubled " by the outcome of the UN investigation and

said " disciplinary action to the maximum degree permitted by Indian

law should be taken as soon as possible against those found to be

involved. "

The Indians were previously stationed in the Democratic Republic of

the Congo as part of the United Nations' MONUC peacekeeping force,

the statement said.

It added that the Indian government assured the United Nations it

would investigate the charges and, if true, " strict and exemplary

action " would be taken against anyone involved.

The statement contained no details about the suspected " sexual

exploitation and abuse. "

Aid workers in Congo, who asked not to be identified, said in May

that the inquiry was focusing on Indian UN peacekeepers accused of

paying for sex with underage girls in the country's violence-torn

east.

Last month, the UN mission in Congo said it was investigating an

Indian peacekeeping officer accused of showing support for Tutsi

rebels in the east.

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