Indian Army Major on UN mission injured in Sudan attack

New Delhi: A Major-rank officer of the Indian Army posted at United Nations Mission in South Sudan was injured when the vehicle patrol he was leading was fired upon by the rebel militia groups there.

The incident took place yesterday when a regular vehicle patrol of one officer, one Junior Commissioned Officer and 10 soldiers of INDBATT-II (Indian Battery-II) were moving from Gurmuk to Pibor in South Sudan, a spokesperson of Indian Army said here today. "At around 1030 Hours (local time), the patrol was fired upon by personnel in combat dress, approximately 15 km short of Pibor. Major Amit of Indian Army who was leading the patrol received a gunshot wound on his back," he said. The officer was evacuated by air to Juba and is presently admitted to Cambodian Level-II hospital there where he is in a stable state, the spokesperson said. The area of Pibor County in South Sudan has witnessed fierce inter-tribal clashes in the recent past. The region is currently active due to confrontation between SPLA (Army of South Sudan) and Rebel Militia Groups (RMG), he said. INDBATT-II is deployed in the United Nations Mission since November 2012. PTI