2 Indians posthumously chosen for UN’s prestigious Dag Hammarskjold Medal

Two Indian peacekeepers have been chosen posthumously for United Nation’s Dag Hammarskjold Medal. They are Lance Naik Nand Ram and Raju Joseph.
Both of them are among the 126 police, military and civilian personnel who have been posthumously awarded a prestigious UN medal.
They have been chosen for this award for their courage and sacrifice while serving in UN peacekeeping operations in 2014 and lost their lives as a result of hostile acts, accidents and disease. They will be presented with this medal on May 29, 2015 i.e. on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
Lance Naik Nand Ram had served with the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). While, Raju Joseph had served in a civilian capacity with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

About Dag Hammarskjold Medal

• Established in December 2000.
• Awarded posthumously to members of peacekeeping operations who lost their lives during service with a peacekeeping operation under the operational control and authority of the United Nations.
• Named after second UN Secretary General and Swedish diplomat Dag Hammarskjold (In office: from 1953 to 1961).
• Hammarskjold had died in a mysterious plane crash in 1961. He was posthumously awarded Nobel Peace Prize the year he died (exceptional case).
• In 2014, eight Indian soldiers had posthumously received the medal.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2015