New Delhi: The United Nations has approached India for the deployment of a CRPF contingent in the trouble-torn Latin American nation of Haiti to help its peacekeeping mission, a proposal which is being considered by the government.

The Home Ministry received the UN proposal seeking CRPF personnel for the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) some time back, a senior official told PTI. "The government is considering the proposal. Discussions are on the preliminary stage," the official said without elaborating the number of CRPF personnel sought by the UN to strengthen its existing force.

No decision has been taken so far, the official added. If the government accepts the invitation, this will be the second CRPF contingent to be deployed with UN peacekeeping missions at present. A 125-strong women contingent of the CRPF is now in Liberia as part of the UN mission there. A 123-men unit of Rapid Action Force, a constituent of the CRPF, was earlier deployed in the trouble-torn Latin American nation in 1995 to assist the election process there.

There were also a few Indians serving in the mission in Haiti on the civil side. The UN mission started functioning in Haiti in 1993 to support the country, the first independent nation in Latin America, which was in the midst of chaos and anarchy. Presently, there are 8,889 personnel in Haiti as part of the UN mission. This include 7,060 military personnel, 1,829 police personnel, 482 international civilian personnel, 1,102 local civilian staff and 194 UN volunteers.

Source : PTI