Ending a nine year-long association, India's all-women UN peacekeeping contingent to war-torn African nation Liberia will be finally coming back to the country this month.
An all-male contingent, however, will continue its duties there with the latest such squad being flagged off today by the Central Reserve Police Force.
India, through the CRPF, has served in the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) since 2007 with both the male and female paramilitary personnel serving in the African nation.
The CRPF women squad was the first-ever all-woman police in UN peacekeeping history.
While nine all-women contingents have served in Liberia till now, the seventh male contingent led by CRPF Commandant Ravindra Bhagat was sent off by force chief Prakash Mishra here.
The Director General said, this time, the United Nations has only sought the male unit for Liberia and not the female team.
He urged the departing 120-member male contingent to make the country proud by their "work and conduct" during this year-long sojourn.
"Apart from your duties, you should also keep intact the highest traditions of your devotion to duty and exhibit good conduct," the CRPF chief told the squad specially trained in UN police duties.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had in January this year bid the final farewell to the Indian unit called the Female Formed Police Unit (FFPU) as the country is getting ready to assume full responsibility of national security amid the ongoing UNMIL drawdown.
The Indian female contingent will leave from Liberia on February 14 and be here by the following week, a senior official said.
Indian contingents were tasked with civil police duties, jail protection and guarding, town patrolling, anti-robbery and anti-riot action, with the women team also entrusted with an exclusive duty to guard President Sirleaf.
"The contribution you have made in inspiring Liberian
women, imparting in them the spirit of professionalism and encouraging them to join operations that protect the nation, for that we will always be grateful.
"Our security service now has 17 per cent women. We owe all that to you, because it was not even one per cent a few years ago. And these women want to emulate you in the way you've served this country," the Liberian President had told the women contingent in her farewell speech to them at the UN.
She had said during the Indian female peacekeepers' stay in Liberia, they demonstrated courage, commitment, discipline and professionalism, which were the hallmark of their service to Liberians.
Sirleaf said she was impressed by the alertness of the Indian Formed Police Unit on many occasions especially during late working hours when they were seen performing their duties.
