Indian forces protect banks in quake-hit Haiti
Several Indian police officers, along with their Brazilian counterparts, were dispatched to Port-au-Prince as incidents of looting grew in the city.
Para-military Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel have been guarding banks and other vital centres in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, to prevent looting, besides providing security to Indians in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.
The Indian contingent of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) did not suffer causalities after the 7.0-quake that hit the Caribbean nation on January 12, according to the United Nations.
There are presently 140 paramilitary personnel who are heavily armed, eleven unarmed police officers and one military staff official stationed in the capital.
UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky told journalists here that the UN and the Haiti government were working on get business back on its feet, which would require protection of banks and fuel stations. The Haitian government will reportedly open the banks this week.
Protecting the banks is one of the several tasks that the Indian paramilitary forces have been engaged in for the past nine days. The UN troops have been providing security to banks and distribution centres, escorting humanitarian convoys and patrolling the streets.
But as incidents of looting grew in the city, several Indian police officers, along with their Brazilian counterparts were dispatched to safeguard the banks. The Indian team swung into action soon after the quake, officials said.