UN condoles death of ex-Indian Army officer in Gaza, believes vehicle struck by Israeli tank
United Nations (PTI): The United Nations condoled and expressed apologies to India over the killing of a former Indian Army officer, who died in war-torn Rafah in Gaza when the vehicle he was travelling in was attacked by shots fired from what it believes was an Israeli tank.
Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale, 46, who retired prematurely from the Indian Army in 2022, joined the world body as a Security Coordination Officer in the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) two months ago.
He was killed, and another DSS staffer from Jordan was injured when their UN-marked vehicle was struck when they were travelling to the European Hospital in war-torn Rafah in Gaza on Monday morning.
Kale, who had commanded the 11 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles in Kashmir, is the "first international casualty" for the world body since the Israel-Hamas conflict started last year.
“We also express our apologies and our condolences to the Government and people of India,” Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at the daily press briefing on Tuesday in response to a question by PTI.
“We appreciate the contribution that India has made,” he said.
Haq said the UN has established a fact-finding panel to look into the deadly attack.
“It's very early in the investigation, and details of the incident are still being verified with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF),” Haq said.
The fact-finding mission is being set up by the Department of Safety and Security.
Haq said that a weapon appears to have impacted the back of the white UN vehicle that was carrying the two UN staff members, killing Kale and injuring the other DSS female staff member who is receiving medical attention and “we believe that she will make it through.”
“The deceased staff member has been identified. He is Waibhav Anil Kale of India, and we send our condolences to his family,” he said.
Haq confirmed that this was the “first international casualty” for the UN in Gaza and added that currently, the world body has 71 international staff in Gaza.
When asked if the UN is in contact with Israeli officials regarding the attack, Haq replied in the affirmative and said, “I think the point is we are in discussion with Israel to determine exactly how this incident happened and the nature of what happened."
"I don't think at this stage we are in doubt about where the shots came from as much as what the circumstances were,” he added.
Haq said the UN believes the shots came from a tank in the area.
When asked that only the IDF have tanks in the region, Haq said, “I think that's a safe assumption to make, yes.”
He said the convoy was going to the European hospital as "there's regular work that's going on in terms of bringing people to different sites and this was part of that.”
When asked if Israel apologised to the UN and if the world body sees this as a deliberate attack, Haq said the case is “still under review”.
"We'll see what the review results in,” he said, adding that “as the review proceeds, we'll need to see what the precise nature of the circumstances were.”
The Permanent Mission of India to the UN had said in a post on X that it is “deeply saddened” by the loss of Col Waibhav Kale. “Our deepest condolences are with the family during this difficult time,” it said.
UN chief Guterres expressed sadness to learn of Kale’s death and injury to the other DSS staffer and condemned all attacks on UN personnel, calling for a full investigation.
Guterres sent his condolences to the family of the fallen staff member.
“With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll – not only on civilians but also on humanitarian workers – the Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages,” Guterres said.
He said that more than 190 UN staff have been killed in Gaza.
"Humanitarian workers must be protected. I condemn all attacks on UN personnel and reiterate my urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire & the release of all hostages,” he said.
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TMC, BJP workers clash in Kolkata ahead of PM rally; stones thrown at minister Shashi Panja's house
Kolkata (PTI): Clashes broke out between TMC and BJP supporters in central Kolkata on Saturday, barely half an hour before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at the Brigade Parade Ground, leaving a police officer and a leader of the saffron party injured, officials said.
Allegations also surfaced that stones were thrown at the residence of West Bengal minister Shashi Panja in the Girish Park area.
The violence took place around 5 km from the rally venue as BJP supporters were marching towards the Brigade Parade Ground to attend the prime minister’s meeting, which marks the culmination of the party’s statewide ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ahead of the Assembly elections.
According to eyewitnesses, supporters of both parties allegedly threw stones at each other and raised slogans, triggering tension in the busy locality.
The officer-in-charge of Bowbazar police station, Bappaditya Naskar, was injured while trying to control the situation, police sources said.
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The BJP also claimed that its north Kolkata district president, Tamaghno Ghosh, and several party workers were injured in the clashes.
Ghosh was later taken to a hospital for treatment, party leaders said.
BJP leaders alleged that their supporters were attacked without provocation while heading towards the rally venue.
"Stones were thrown at us without any provocation. Abuses were also hurled at us," a BJP activist told a Bengali news channel.
The party further alleged that several vehicles, including buses carrying supporters to the rally, were damaged in the clashes.
However, TMC workers denied the allegations and claimed that BJP supporters first attacked Panja's residence while passing through the Girish Park area on their way to the Brigade rally.
Panja claimed that BJP supporters had targeted her residence and damaged window panes.
"BJP goons carried out the attack. Buses heading to the Brigade rally were carrying bricks, glass bottles and bombs. They attacked my house on Girish Park main road," the minister alleged.
She claimed that trouble began after saffron party supporters tore down posters reading "Boycott BJP" put up in the area.
According to Panja, when TMC workers attempted to put up the posters again, BJP supporters got down from buses and allegedly assaulted them, following which stones were thrown towards her house and window panes were damaged.
Rejecting the allegations, BJP leaders claimed that TMC activists pelted stones at their rallyists and buses when they were passing through the area.
Some BJP leaders also alleged that the police initially remained "inactive" as the situation escalated.
Police later rushed a large contingent to the spot and brought the situation under control, dispersing the clashing groups.
As tension escalated in the locality, many shopkeepers hurriedly downed their shutters.
The clashes occurred shortly before Modi's rally at the Brigade Parade Ground, where the prime minister is scheduled to address a massive gathering and unveil development projects worth around Rs 18,680 crore.
The rally marks the culmination of the BJP's month-long 'Parivartan Yatra', which the party launched across West Bengal to mobilise support and sharpen its campaign against the ruling TMC ahead of the Assembly elections.
Political observers said the clashes underscore the intense political polarisation in the state as both the BJP and the TMC seek to consolidate their support base in the run-up to the polls.
The BJP, which had emerged as the principal challenger to the TMC in the 2021 Assembly elections, has been attempting to revive its organisational momentum in the state through mass mobilisation campaigns and high-profile rallies by central leaders.
The ruling TMC, on the other hand, has been seeking to project the BJP's political campaigns as attempts to import "outsider politics" and disrupt peace in the state.
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