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{{Short description|Singapore Police unit}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Coord|1|20|21.41|N|103|52|44.79|E|display=title|region:SG_type:landmark}}

[[File:Gurkha IOC 1.jpg|250px|thumb|Gurkha Contingent soldiers during the [[117th IOC Session]].]]

The '''Gurkha Contingent''' ('''GC''') is a line department of the [[Singapore Police Force]] (SPF) consisting primarily of [[Gurkha]]s from [[Nepal]], recruited by the [[British Army]] with the purview of the [[Government of Singapore]]. The contingent's roles are as a special guard force and [[counter-terrorism|counter-terrorist force]].

==History==
{{See also | British Indian Army |Gorkha_regiments_(India) | l2 = History of Gorkha regiments | Brigade_of_Gurkhas#History | l3= Brigade of Gurkhas history | Royal_Gurkha_Rifles#History | l4 = Royal Gurkha Rifles history | Gurkhas }}

The Gurkha Contingent was formed on 9 April 1949 in the wake of [[Indian Independence Movement|Indian independence]] from the [[British Empire]], with Captain Darshan Limbu, when the [[Gurkha]] regiments of the [[British Indian Army]] were divided between the [[Indian Army]] and the [[British Army]] as per the terms of the [[Britain–India–Nepal Tripartite Agreement]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.singapore21.org.sg/art_talent.html |title=Untitled Document |website=www.singapore21.org.sg |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051102065812/http://www.singapore21.org.sg/art_talent.html |archive-date=2 November 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Under the agreement, four Gurkha regiments from Nepal were transferred to the British Army while six joined the Indian army.<ref name=gorakh1/> India now has 39 Gorkha battalions serving in seven Gorkha regiments.<ref name=gorakh1>[https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/gurkha-recruitment-legacy-of-past-says-nepal-calls-1947-tripartite-agreement-redundant/630297 Gurkha recruitment legacy of past, says Nepal; calls 1947 tripartite agreement 'redundant'], ''Times of India'', 31 July 2020.</ref> Those transferred to the British Army were posted to other British colonies. In [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] and Singapore, their presence was required in the [[Malayan Emergency]], and they were to replace the [[Sikhs in the Indian and British Armies|Sikh]] unit in Singapore which reverted to the Indian Army on Indian independence.

Just a year after their formation, their presence became an asset when racial riots between the Malay and European communities broke out over the [[Maria Hertogh riots|disputed custody of Maria Hertogh]]. The GC troopers were again activated when [[1964 race riots in Singapore|major rioting]] erupted all over the country between ethnic Malays and Chinese on the Prophet [[Mohammed]]'s birthday from 21 July 1964 to September that same year.

At that time, their presence as a neutral force was important because local police officers were often perceived to be—or were even expected to be—biased towards their own ethnic groups when handling race-related issues, further fueling discontent and violence. Officers who attempted to carry out their duties impartially and in full accordance with the law also faced social backlash from their own ethnic communities, a difficult situation which could even lead to physical harm to individual officers.

In his autobiography, former Singapore Prime Minister [[Lee Kuan Yew]] recounted the use of the Gurkha Contingent as an impartial force at the time when Singapore had just gained [[History of Singapore#Merger|independence]]. He wrote:

<blockquote>When I returned to Oxley Road [Lee's residence], Gurkha policemen (recruited by the British from [[Nepal]]) were posted as sentries. To have either Chinese policemen shooting Malays or Malay policemen shooting Chinese would have caused widespread repercussions. The Gurkhas, on the other hand, were neutral, besides having a reputation for total discipline and loyalty.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/852219718|title=The future of Singapore : population, society and the nature of the state|date=2014|others=Kamaludeen Mohamed Nasir, Bryan S. Turner|isbn=978-0-415-71594-2|location=New York|pages=62|oclc=852219718}}</ref></blockquote>

In April 2012, the GC suffered a scandal when nine of its officers were detained for being involved in a fight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Crime/Story/A1Story20120406-338062.html|title=9 Gurkha officers arrested for fighting|website=www.asiaone.com}}</ref>

==Manpower and training==
Since its formation in 1949 with 142 men, the contingent has grown to over 2,000 in size in 2003.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = [[Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|Ministry of Finance]] | title = 2005 Budget Estimates – Ministry of Home Affairs | year = 2005 | url = http://www.mof.gov.sg/budget_2005/expenditure_estimates/attachment/MHA_EE2005.pdf | access-date = 15 October 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120716191110/http://www.mof.gov.sg/budget_2005/expenditure_estimates/attachment/MHA_EE2005.pdf | archive-date = 16 July 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Young men are recruited in [[Nepal]] at the British Gurkha camp in [[Pokhara]]. About 320 are selected annually in December out of a pool of over 20,000 applications, split between the Gurkha Contingent and the [[British Army]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040705/text/40705w37.htm | title = House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Jul 2004 (pt 37) | publisher = [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060208221158/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040705/text/40705w37.htm | archive-date = 8 February 2006}}</ref>

Some of the basic physical admission criteria in the recruitment camp include:

* Aged {{sfrac|17|1|2}} to 21
* Minimum height of 160 centimetres (5 feet 3 in)
* Minimum weight of 50 kilograms (110 lbs) (7 st 12 lbs)
* Chest circumference of 79 centimetres (31 in) with minimum 5 centimetres (2 in) expansion
* No applicants needing eyesight aids will be accepted.
* Generally good oral hygiene, with up to two fillings, false teeth or a single gap.

Applicants are expected to possess a minimum education level of SLC 3rd Division, equivalent to the [[GCE Ordinary Level]]. Upon registration, they have to go through a battery of physical and mental assessments prior to selection, including oral and written tests in the English language, a mathematics test, a board interview and medical examination. The annual selection process, which normally takes 17 days but is spread over four months due to conditions in Nepal, will then assign recruits to either the GC or the British Army.

Upon successful selection, GC trainees are flown to Singapore, and housed at the permanent base of the GC at [[Mount Vernon Camp]] where they will receive ten months of training before being deployed for duties. The training phase for GC officers is relatively unknown, although they have been known to use the jungles in [[Pulau Tekong]] for training. Arrangements with the [[Royal Brunei Police Force]] have allowed Gurkha officers to conduct jungle training in [[Brunei]] for several years. Training from external agencies has also been received including from the [[SAF Medical Training Institute]] for medical courses.<ref>[http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/smti/about_us/history2.html SAF Medical Training Institute – About Us – History 2000]. Mindef.gov.sg.</ref>

==Organisation and rank structure==
[[File:Gurkha Band.jpg|thumb|upright|Members of the [[Singapore Police Force]] [[Gurkha Contingent Pipes and Drums Platoon]] performing at the Police Week Carnival 2005.]]

There are a total of nine Gurkha Guard companies commanded by local and British officers. As a British colonial import, the first contingent commander was a British officer, and up to today, it remains the only military or police unit in Singapore to be headed by a British officer seconded from the [[British Army]].

The current commander is [[Assistant commissioner (police)|Assistant Commissioner]] William Robert Kefford.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.police.gov.sg/Who-We-Are/Organisation-Structure/Organisational-Chart |title=Organisational Chart |website=[[Singapore Police Force]]}}</ref> The contingent also has its own Gurkha Band Contingent, the [[Gurkha Contingent Pipes and Drums Platoon]], which is part of the [[Singapore Police Force Band]].

The rank structure of the GC has remained largely unchanged over the years, thus retaining several ranks which have since been abolished in the rest of the police force. It is currently the only unit to retain the rank of [[Chief Inspector]], and to recruit new officers as Constables as opposed to regular officers in the rest of the SPF who start from a minimum rank of Sergeant.

==Deployment==
[[File:Gurkha IOC 3.jpg|thumb|upright|A [[Gurkha]] officer patrols around [[Raffles City Singapore|Raffles City]] during the [[117th IOC Session]]. He is easily identified by the tilted [[Hat Terrai Gurkha]] and the [[kukri]] seen affixed to the back of his belt.]]

Before the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001, the GC was seldom seen in public besides being stationed at key locations such as [[Istana Singapore|The Istana]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-26-mn-38395-story.html|title=Gurkha Loyalty Extends to Singapore's Leader|date=26 August 2001|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> and the homes of VIPs such as former Prime Minister [[Lee Kuan Yew]] and the [[President of Singapore]]. Only those who spoke English were assigned to protecting VIP homes. They were also seen stationed at important foreign properties such as the [[British High Commission]] and installations which require added security such as the Currency House at [[Pasir Panjang]].

Changing security concerns since 2001 has led to a more active deployment of GC troopers in recent years, and a review of their existing roles. Previously known for standing guard atop lookout towers at [[Changi Prison]] where the country's top criminals are housed, this role has since been outsourced to private [[auxiliary police]] forces in the mid-2000s with the liberalization of the private armed security industry.

Besides guarding key installations, Gurkha troopers are also increasingly deployed during key national events. They are deployed during the annual [[Singapore National Day Parade|National Day Parade]], and complemented the police's stringent security measures during the [[117th IOC Session]] held in Singapore in July 2005. In addition, they are also deployed to watch over sealed ballot boxes during the country's [[Elections in Singapore|general elections]]. Most recently, the GC was involved in the hunt for escaped detainee [[Mas Selamat bin Kastari]] and [[2013 Little India riot]]s. GCs are now currently involved with many police and security officers at the MRT station passenger service centers for cash top-up services since 1 September 2017. The Contingent was also used to protect the [[Capella Resort, Singapore|Capella Resort]] venue which hosted the [[2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit|2018 summit]] between [[Kim Jong-un]] and [[Donald Trump]].<ref name="abc._Gurk">{{Cite web | title = Gurkhas of Nepal to protect Trump and Kim at summit | agency = Reuters/AP | work = ABC News | date = 2018-06-06 | accessdate = 2021-11-30 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-05/gurkhas-of-nepal-to-protect-trump-and-kim-at-summit/9837924 }}</ref>

On 18 March 2004, three armed fugitives escaped from [[Johor]], [[Malaysia]] after committing armed robbery, and fled by a motorized [[sampan]] to [[Pulau Tekong]]. Over 700 personnel from the police and the SAF were activated, with the first fugitive captured by the Gurkha officers within 34 hours from the commencement of the search operation. The second fugitive was arrested by the [[Police Coast Guard]]'s [[Special Task Squadron]] officers, while the last man was again caught by the GC six hours after the second arrest.<ref>[http://www.spf.gov.sg/publication/plm/04mar_03.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050601003050/http://www.spf.gov.sg/publication/plm/04mar_03.htm|date=1 June 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://getforme.com/previous2004/previous210304_threefugitivesonpulautekongcaptured.htm|title=Getforme Singapore THREE FUGITIVES ON PULAU TEKONG CAPTURED FrontPage 21 MARCH 2004|website=getforme.com}}</ref>

The GC has also contributed to Singapore's overseas security and humanitarian missions. For example, GC officers were part of a 40-man Singapore Police Contingent to the [[United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.mha.gov.sg/mha/detailed.jsp?artid=420&type=4&root=0&parent=0&cat=0&mode=arc |title=News@Home |access-date=15 October 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820012025/http://www2.mha.gov.sg/mha/detailed.jsp?artid=420&type=4&root=0&parent=0&cat=0&mode=arc |archive-date=20 August 2006 }}</ref> They also joined a 30-man team to [[Iraq]] to help train about 1,500 local Iraqi trainers and police officers for three months before returning to Singapore on 19 September 2003.<ref>[http://www.spf.gov.sg/publication/plm/03sep_05.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050317031038/http://www.spf.gov.sg/publication/plm/03sep_05.htm|date=17 March 2005}}</ref>

==Social life and impact==
[[File:Gurkha IOC 4.jpg|thumb|Gurkha Contingent officer at Raffles City during the 117th IOC Session giving directions to a member of the public. Their increased deployment in public areas has resulted in greater interaction between them and Singaporeans at large.]]
During the operation to separate the [[conjoined twins]] [[Ganga and Jamuna Shreshta|Ganga and Jamuna]] at the [[Singapore General Hospital]] in November 2001, the Gurkha community helped to raise funds for the medical procedure and daily expenses, accommodated the family at their Mount Vernon home for a period of time, and assisting in making logistical arrangements for the family's transportation and other needs.<ref>{{cite news | title = Ganga, Jamuna expected to return home in October | date = 26 August 2001 | work = [[The Kathmandu Post]] | location = Nepal | url = http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishdaily/ktmpost/2001/aug/aug26/index.htm | format = reprint | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040808081036/http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishdaily/ktmpost/2001/aug/aug26/index.htm | archive-date = 8 August 2004}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of operation by Gurkha Army]]
* [[Gorkha regiments (India)#History|History and origin of Gurkha units]]
* [[British Indian Army]] (1858–1947)
* [[Gorkha regiments (India)]], seven regiments in India which is the original parent force for the units in Singapore and Brunei
* [[Gurkha Reserve Unit|Gurkha Reserve Unit (Brunei)]]
* Gurkha Regiment (United Kingdom)
** [[Brigade of Gurkhas]] (British Army)
** [[Royal Gurkha Rifles]] (British Army)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gurkha Contingent}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170417123034/http://www.police.gov.sg/about-us/organisational-structure/specialist-and-line-units/gurkha-contingent#content Gurkha Contingent]

{{Gurkha}}
{{Singapore Police Force}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Gurkha Contingent| ]]
[[Category:Counterterrorism in Singapore]]
[[Category:Singapore Police Force]]
[[Category:Society of Nepal]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1949]]
[[Category:Gurkhas]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Malaya]]

Gurkha Contingent - Revision history

Bot at 10:28, 7 October 2022