The United Nations will honour two Indian peacekeepers posthumously on International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which is observed on May 29. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will present the Dag Hammarskjold Medal to Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh, who served with the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and to Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan, who was deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Both are recognised for their “ultimate sacrifice” during missions in those countries.
In addition to the posthumous medals, Guterres will also present the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year award to Major Abhilasha Barak of India. She serves with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and is being recognised for outreach work supporting women and girls during her deployment in Lebanon.
Across the reports, the focus is on the UN’s annual commemoration of the work and losses of “Blue Helmets,” with these Indian servicemen cited as among those being formally honoured this year.
