New York, May 30, 2025: Two Indian peacekeepers, Brigadier Amitabh Jha and Havildar Sanjay Singh, who lost their lives during United Nations peacekeeping missions, have been posthumously honoured with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold medals. The medals were presented to India's Permanent Representative to the UN, P Harish, by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at a solemn ceremony held on May 29, 2025.
Brigadier Amitabh Jha served as the acting Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) deployed in the Golan Heights, overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Syria established after the 1973 war. During turbulent events in December 2024, following the collapse of the Assad government in Syria, Brigadier Jha demonstrated exemplary leadership managing evolving security challenges along the border, which was under pressure from multiple factions.
Secretary-General Guterres lauded Brigadier Jha's unwavering commitment to UN peacekeeping efforts, noting his prior service as a military observer for the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) from 2005 to 2006. The official citation highlighted his pivotal role in navigating complex security scenarios during the Syrian crisis.
Havildar Sanjay Singh was serving with MONUSCO at the time of his death. Additionally, Waibhav Anil Kale, a retired Indian Army colonel serving as a UN security service coordinator in Gaza, died last year when his vehicle came under attack in the Rafah region. These losses underscore the dangers faced by Indian personnel committed to global peace and security.
The presentation took place on the 77th UN Peacekeepers Day, which honours the service of over 61,000 peacekeepers worldwide, including 5,375 from India. To pay tribute, the Indian Army conducted a commemorative ceremony at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, led by Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, remembering the 182 Indian peacekeepers who have died in UN operations.
This recognition reaffirms India's longstanding commitment to UN peacekeeping missions and honours the sacrifices made by its personnel in pursuit of global peace.
