M A I N   N E W S

1971 war hero J.S. Aurora dead
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 3
Lt-Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora, who led the Indian forces to victory over Pakistan in the war for liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 and oversaw the surrender of over 90,000 Pakistani troops, died here this morning at a private hospital.

Ailing for sometime, Gen Aurora died in sleep in the early hours of the morning today. He is survived by a son and daughter.

Gen Aurora, who as the GOC-in-C of Eastern Command, had the honour of accepting the famous surrender by Pakistani troops under Gen A.A.K. Niazi in Dhaka on December 16, 1971. Also known as a thinking General, he was extremely popular with his troops.

He led the strike by the Indian forces in the then East Pakistan which ultimately led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

Born on February 13, 1917, in Kalagujran village in Jhelum district, now in Pakistan, Aurora was commissioned into the Indian Army in the first battalion of the 2nd Punjab Regiment in 1939.

He saw action in 1947-48, in 1948 Kashmir operations when he led the battalion in the Pir Kalewa region of Rajouri district.

Gen Aurora was the Director, Military Training, at Army Headquarters before taking over the command of the 33 Corp in the Eastern Sector.

A recipient of Padma Bhushan and Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Gen Aurora had a stint in Parliament as Rajya Sabha member on the support of the Akali Dal in 1986. He had opposed the Operation Bluestar and had taken up the cause of victims in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

His funeral will take place on Thursday with full military honours at Brar Square in Delhi cantonment.