Two Indian peacekeepers killed in Congo anti-UN riots

Two Border Security Force personnel, who were part of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, were killed on Tuesday during violent protests in the Central African country.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he was deeply grieved at the loss of the two valiant Indian peacekeepers and demanded that the perpetrators of the "outrageous attacks" be held accountable and brought to justice.

The latest incident came after the Indian Army on Monday prevented groups of civilian armed groups in Congo from looting its operating bases and Level III hospital in Kinshasa.

At least 15 people were killed and dozens of others injured during two days of demonstrations in Congo's east against the United Nations mission in the country. 

The incident took place at the UN base in Butembo in North Kivu province in the east when violent attackers snatched weapons from Congolese police and fired on the UN personnel.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said reports of civilian casualties, including reports of UN peacekeepers killing and injuring civilians, would be investigated. 

He said that on Tuesday hundreds of assailants again attacked bases of the UN force, known by its French acronym MONUSCO, in Goma as well as other parts of North Kivu fuelled by hostile remarks and threats made by individuals and groups against the UN, particularly on social media.

Mobs are throwing stones and petrol bombs, breaking into bases, looting and vandalising, and setting facilities on fire, Haq said. "We are trying to calm things down including by dispatching quick reaction forces but there is no evidence the violence has ended," he said.

Congo's mineral-rich east is home to myriad rebel groups and the region's security has worsened despite a year of emergency operations by a joint force of the armies of Congo and Uganda. 

Civilians in the east have also had to deal with violence from jihadi rebels linked to the Islamic State group.