CISF contingent flagged off for UN mission in Haiti

New Delhi: A 140-member squad of paramilitary force CISF was flagged off on Monday for rendering United Nations-mandated security duties in the Caribbean island of Haiti.

The contingent will render civil police duties and assist local police under the umbrella of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The squad has undergone training in weapon handling, crowd control and tackling hostage situation among other security tasks. The team was given a ceremonial send-off by officiating CISF Director General AK Pateria from the forces' headquarters here.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is deputed on this UN mission since 2008 and this will be the 10th contingent of the force to that country.

The major responsibilities of this contingent will be to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, the UN personnel and their installations among others, a CISF spokesperson said.

The CISF is tasked to secure 59 civil airports and other critical infrastructure in the aerospace and nuclear domain in India.