1.      Genesis.   The cessation of hostilities in Korea was required to be implemented by an United Nation Armistice and envisaged establishment of a demilitarized zone, from which all military forces would be withdrawn and followed by an exchange of prisoners. However, the exchange of prisoners became a stumbling block with many personnel of the North Korea People’s Army (NKPA) and Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) under captivity of United Nation Command, as well as United Nation Command prisoners with the North Koreans did not wish to be repatriated to their respective countries. The North Koreans and the Chinese insisted on the repatriation of all prisoners whereas the United Nation Command insisted on the choice being left to the individual combatant.  In November 1952, India proposed to the United Nation General Assembly, the creation of a Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) to facilitate the repatriation of prisoners. The proposal was accepted and a United Nation resolution was passed on 03 December 1952. As per the resolution, the prisoners who refused voluntary repatriation to their own countries were to be placed in the custody of NNRC and the commission was also tasked to settle the issue of the non-repatriated prisoners. In order to implement this process, two organisations were established, the first was the NNRC with India as chair of the commission and a Custodian Force consisting of Indian units (CFI), which was to take responsibility for all prisoners who did not wish to be repatriated. An estimated strength of 24,000 prisoners was to be looked after by the CFI.

2.      Contribution.    Lieutenant General KS Thimayya, DSO was nominated to chair the NNRC and Major General SPP Thorat, DSO was tasked to command the CFI. The CFI consisted of one Infantry Brigade with five Infantry Battalions, Machine Gun Company, General Hospital, 60 Parachute Field Ambulance and other minor units. The CF Iand NNRC rendered yeoman service during the entire span of mission. The CFI negotiated the complex issue of reparation through compassion, fairness and neutrality. The conduct of the CFI and NNRC was widely acclaimed by the international community. On completion of the mission, the Indian Government awarded Padam Bhushan to Lieutenant General KS Thimayya, DSO for distinguished service and Kirti Chakra to Major General SPP Thorat, DSO.

Indian Troops Guarding the Prisoners Camp in Korea		Repatriated Prisoners Being Handed Over