Five Indian peacekeepers have been honoured posthumously by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The five were among the 125 UN peacekeepers, who died while performing their duties.
On behalf of the Indians, medals were accepted on Thursday at a solemn ceremony by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, an attaché at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New York.
The names of the five were given as Havildar Nazimuddin Mollaha, Lieutenant Havildar Vishnu Bhagwan Shinde, Lieutenant Havildar Mun Prakash, Naib Subedar Ram Kripal Singh and civilian Sarang Das Dhar.
"As the peacekeeping has become more complex in recent years, the duty is now more dangerous than previous years," Annan said.
Appreciating the role of peacekeeping, he said it should be noted that more UN peacekeepers died in 2005 than any other year earlier in the past three decades.
"While every fallen hero leaves behind an army of mourners, they also put in place a legacy of which their families, friends and fellow nationals and global citizens can remain forever proud," he added.
A minute of silence was observed at the ceremony honouring the 125 slain heroes.
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