A Nepal Army peacekeeper serving in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission at Bali, Djugu territory in Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, died on Tuesday after being shot by suspected members of the Coopérative pour le développement du Congo militia.

According to the Nepal Army, Private Anil Gurung of Surkhet was declared dead while undergoing treatment at UN hospital, Bunia Congo after sustaining a bullet injury.

Nepal Army spokesperson Narayan Silwal informed that Gurung was airlifted to the UN hospital after being shot by rebels soon after clearing the objective on position of hold during operation “BALI”.

“Gurung is the 72nd Nepal Army personnel to have been killed in the UN peacekeeping mission,” Silwal told the Post.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a statement on Tuesday, condemned the attack against peacekeepers.

Recalling that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime, Guterres has called on the Congolese authorities to investigate the incident and swiftly bring those responsible to justice.

The UN Chief through the statement expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper, as well as to the government and the people of Nepal.

Nepal, with 5,466 army personnel deployed in 12 peacekeeping missions in 11 war-hit countries, is the second largest peace troops contributor after Bangladesh. Nepal has been contributing to the UN peace missions since 1958.