Asiad medallist killed in South Sudan

NEW DELHI: Two Indian soldiers were killed and one was injured in South Sudan on Thursday in raid at the UN peacekeeping mission post by 2000 rebels who were looking for rival tribe members. The attack in the troubled Jonglei state was the second such incident in eight months in which Indian troops have suffered casualties in the world's newest nation which is staring at a full-fledged civil war.

On April 9 five Indian soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, were killed when their convoy was ambushed.

The Army said in Thursday's attack, subedar Dharmesh Sangwan (8 Rajputana Rifles) and subedar Kanwar Pal Singh (Army Medical Corps) - both from Haryana- were killed in cross-fire between the Indian troops and rebels, who were suspected to be from Lou Neurs tribe. They were looking for members of rival Dinka tribe, who had taken shelter in the temporary base manned by an officer, 5 junior commissioned officers and 30 other ranks.

Sangwan was just ten days away from his 35th birthday which he had planned to celebrate with his wife, nine-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter. His parents, who stay in Dwarka in South West Delhi, were to join the celebrations on December 29. But now, the family is gathering courage to receive him in a coffin.

A rowing champion, Sangwan was part of the team that won a silver in 2006 Doha Asia Games and was the coach for Delhi state and Rajputana Rifles Centre teams.

His younger brother, Kapil Sangwan, is a fruit and vegetable vendor and Dharmesh supported both the families. The kids were in school when the news came in at their home in Bhiwadi. His cousin Naresh Sangwan told TOI, "Since childhood, Dharmesh was into sports and wanted to join the Army. He was an inspiration for all the boys in our village."

Just three days back, Kanwar called up his teenaged daughter Anjali and son Tarun to tell them that he would get special Christmas gifts when he would be home in their Bhondsi village on a vacation on January 5. The 47-year-old subedar was due to retire in February.

"My son has been snatched away from me. I have lost everything. Now we are waiting for his body," said his distraught father Kanhiya Singh.

According to details of the attack available with the army headquarters, 36 Dinkas had sought protection in the base following spiraling violence after president Salva Kiir, a Dinka, accused the ex vice president Riek Machar, a Lou Neur, and soldiers loyal to him of attempting a coup on December 16.

Army sources said all the Indian troops and UN personnel from the base have been safely evacuated by helicopters, and additional troops were rushed to the spot. They said the fate of 36 Dinkas taken away by Lou Neur tribe members was still not clear.

Sources said the countdown to the attack began on December 19 when Dinkas sought protection in the base in Akobo. The Indian troops sought reinforcement of the base because of the fear of retaliation by Lou Neur, and a helicopter was rushed to the base with an officer and six other ranks. The helicopter landed at 6.30 pm India time on Thursday, and an armoured personnel carrier mounted patrol was sent to protect the helicopter.

It was around the same time that the 2000 strong crowd, many of them armed, stormed the compound. The crowd opened fire on the Dinkas, and an exchange of fire took place between the Indian soldiers and the attackers. In the firing two JCOs were killed, and a third person, Naik Sahabul Mandal (EME) was injured.

Over the next few hours, four helicopters and ground troops were rushed to evacuate the stranded Indian soldiers.

South Sudan was borne out of a civil war that raged from 1983 to 2005, during which over two million people were killed.