WATCH: Shocking footage of man urinating on Indian war memorial in Kingussie
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Shocking footage has emerged of a man urinating on the Force K6 Indian soldiers war memorial in Kingussie.
The video which has been shared on social media was accompanied by racist and homophobic comments by the culprit as he desecrated the monument in the town's Gynack Gardens.
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LONG READ & VIDEO: The incredible story and sacrifice of Force K6
A part of Kingussie that will forever remain India
The remarks were so obscene that the Strathy has decided to mute the drunken man's voice as he urinates on the tribute to the fallen Indian soldiers who were killed or died whilst based in the strath and wider Scotland for mountain warfare training during World War II.
In the 29 seconds footage recorded by the man himself, he urinates on poppy wreaths at the base of the memorial whilst making offensive Islamophobic and gay pride comments and then aims a dig at the late Queen.
About the only comment that the Strathy can report is when he says: "I do not even know, I am wasted" after getting his abusive words mixed up.
It is thought the incident occurred in March, last year, but the video has only recently surfaced on local social media.
The permanent stone tribute was unveiled in Kingussie in September 2022 to ensure that the contribution of Force K6 – later re-named the Indian Contingent – is never forgotten.
A Police Scotland spokesman said the force had not received a report of the alleged incident at the time.
The men remembered in Kingussie served in the AT (Animal Transport) companies of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC) during the Second World War.
The black granite stone – which was imported from India – is the UK’s first permanent memorial to all ranks of Force K6.
It was engraved and adorned with gold leaf by Inverness monument makers, Andrew Stewart and Son Ltd.
The Indian Contingent, was a detachment of the Indian Army stationed around the Cairngorms, Golspie, Corgarff and Aberdeenshire.
Kingussie's New Cemetery on the outskirts of the Badenoch capital represents the single largest graveyard in the United Kingdom where Force K6 soldiers are interred.
There are also graves in England, Wales, France and Germany.
Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC) provided logistical support to the frontline in World War I and II.
They were tasked with transporting supplies over terrain that was inaccessible for the British Expeditionary Force’s (BEF) motorised transport companies.
On the stone’s inscription tribute is paid to the 14 members (13 Muslim and one Hindu) of Force K6 who were stationed and all of whom died whilst serving in Scotland.
The stone also recognises Kingussie-native, Isobel Harling and recipient of the British Empire Medal (BEM), who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service during the war, and who tended their graves for over 70 years.
Her brother John was killed aged 20 after being shot down over Leuven in Belgium during World War II.
Mrs Harling passed away aged 100 at the end of November, last year, and was laid to rest in the same cemetery as the soldiers that she lovingly referred to as 'her boys'.
