Punjab battalion to leave for UN peacekeeping in Lebanon

New Delhi, Dec 8 (UNI) A new batch of 800 army personnel, mainly from 15 Punjab, a highly-decorated battalion of the Punjab Regiment, will shortly leave for Lebanon as part of UN peacekeeping.

Besides 15 Punjab, some representatives of other arms and services are also proceeding to Lebanon.

15 PUNJAB, which will operate under UNIFIL, is replacing 4 SIKH who performed extremely well in the recent conflict along the borders of Israel and Lebanon.

Addressing the contingent here today, Lt Gen Susheel Gupta, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, recalled the glorious past of the battalion, and expressed confidence that it would earn further laurels for the nation while working under the UN banner.

Apart from the peacekeeping operations of military nature such as patrolling, security of UN personnel and installations, protection of civilians, observation and reporting, the Indian contingent will also be involved in humanitarian and reconstruction activities.

These include medical aid camps, veterinary services, computer education, construction work by engineer teams, provision of Jaipur foot for victims of mine blasts and restoration of essential services.

15 PUNJAB was raised on April 13, 1705, by Baba Alla Singh, founder of the Patiala State. It is also one of the highest decorated battalion of the Indian Army with 362 Awards, 22 Battle Honours and one Theatre Honour 'Punjab', which was given to it for the battle of Hussainiwala where it stalled three successive attacks by a Pakistani Brigade supported by tanks in 1971.

The battalion holds the record of having won the maximum number of eight Mahavir Chakras and 18 Vir Chakras in a single operation in Zojila in 1948.

UNI YJ VA KN1923