Resolving the dispute over deployment of its troops for the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo, the Indian Army is sending its personnel to the African nation after a gap of over 15 months on June 22.
"A battalion from the Bihar Regiment will be leaving for Congo on June 22 and join the Indian brigade in North Kivu there," army sources told PTI here.
India had to stop sending replacements for its units in Congo as the Congolese Government had raised objections with the United Nations over the continuance of Indian troops in peacekeeping operations in the war-torn country.
Army sources said the Congolese Government had withdrawn its protest about six months back from the UN, clearing the way for India to resume sending troops for replacing its contingent there.
After the first troops move into Congo, two more units will be sent there by the army to replace an equal number of units in the north Kivu brigade. A brigade has three battalions under it.
Troop deployment on the UN Mission in Congo was halted in March this year after the Indian Air Force (IAF) cancelled the deployment of over 200 Indian Air Force personnel in the African country.
India had last sent its troops to Congo in April 2008. Due to the delay caused by the problem, units operating there had an extended tenure.
"The units operating there have served beyond their mandated term but they have now started de-inducting and they will start returning this month only," a source said.
Problems in troop deployment in Congo arose after reports came in last year that Indian peacekeepers were allegedly involved in cases of sexual abuse there.
In March, the army had cleared around 100 of its soldiers of these charges. They were indicted by an internal UN investigation for child abuse and sexual exploitation while posted at a peacekeeping mission in Congo. The Army's inquiry into the matter did not find any evidence against its soldiers.