MUMBAI: Around three dozen police personnel from Maharashtra, who are on deputation to the UN Mission in South Sudan where clashes have broken out, are trapped in the crossfire. Some of them are believed to have called up their colleagues in the city and have shared their experiences.
Every year several police officers are chosen for the prized UN posting. United Nations Police deploys personnel in peacekeeping operations and some place the role of advisers in UN special political missions.
United Nations Police support the reform, restructuring and rebuilding of domestic law-enforcement agencies by imparting training and expertise. Deputy police commissioner Sheela Sail, who is serving the UN Mission in Africa, is believed to have called her brother, Jagdish, late on Sunday night. She is said to have told her brother that her colleagues are in safe houses in South Sudan as there is trouble in its capital Juba.
There are reports that the policemen from Maharashtra are facing paucity of food. A senior police officer holed up in South Sudan told TOI, “We are asking the Indian battalion to give us food but they are busy securing the UN Mission compound and they too have limited supply.” Maharashtra director general of police Praveen Dixit refused to discuss the issue saying that the ministry of external affairs is handling the matter.