Off-duty Gurkhas in scuffle at camp

A scuffle apparently broke out among a group of off-duty Gurkhas at their camp off Mount Vernon Road a week ago. The incident on June 13 has been described by police as a case of "disorderly and boisterous behaviour".

Eight of the Gurkhas were treated in the camp for injuries but no one was grievously hurt. The incident happened late in the night, after a discussion by a larger group of officers on the issue of salary.

In a statement, police said there was a misunderstanding over pay and benefits and that they are addressing these concerns. Police and the Gurkha camp command are investigating the incident as an internal matter.

Discipline and order were restored that night.

The Gurkha Contingent (GC) of the Singapore Police Force was formed on 9th April 1949from selected ex-British Army Gurkhas. It was raised to replace a Sikh unit which had existed prior to the Japanese occupation during the Second World War and is an integral part of the Police Force.

The GC is a well trained, dedicated and disciplined body whose principal role is as a specialist guard force. In times of crisis it can be deployed as a reaction force. During the turbulent years before and after independence, the GC acquitted itself well a number of times during outbreaks of civil disorder. The Gurkhas displayed the courage, self restraint and professionalism for which they are famous and earned the respect of the society at large.

Recently the GC can be seen patrolling the streets and have replaced local policemen to guard key installations. Before the 9/11 attacks, they were seldom seen in public.

The most recent deployment of the GC was to provide additional security for the Singapore Airshow, Asia's largest airshow and the hunt for the escaped terrorist, Mas Selamat.