Three Indian Peacekeepers who were found guilty of illegally detaining and physically assaulting a gold trader in Congo by a UN investigation team earlier this year have been let off with just a warning by the Army. While the UN had handed over a detailed report of the incident prepared by its Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) to India and asked it to take 'appropriate action' against the peacekeepers, a Court of Inquiry (CoI) initiated by Army HQ has recommended that only a 'warning' be given to the offending personnel.

What has surprised experts is that the entire inquiry, presided over by Lt General Rajender Singh, Director General Infantry, relied only on statements made by the three Indian peacekeepers and did not make any effort to record statements by witnesses who were examined by UN investigators in Congo.

The UN report had said that there was 'sufficient evidence' to prove the involvement of "JCO Deepak Singh Nayal, Sergeant Suresh Pandurang Bodhak and Lt Col Talum Duby" in the illegal detention of a local gold trader in 2006. As UN cannot punish peacekeepers on its own, it had asked India to investigate the matter and take necessary action.

The report had said that peacekeepers physically assaulted and "sexually propositioned" a local resident to recover $480 that they had paid as part of a gold deal after the 'gold dust' was allegedly found to be counterfeit.

After the allegations were made public earlier this year, Defence Minister A K Antony had assured that the issue would be probed by the Army in detail and “anyone found guilty will not be spared”.

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