IAF veteran, witness to 1971 Pak surrender, dies at 89 in Raipur

RAIPUR: Wing Commander M B Ojha (retd), a veteran of the 1971 War and one of the officers in the iconic picture of the surrender of Pakistan army in Bangladesh, passed away in Raipur Sunday. He was 89.

The IAF officer took part in the wars of 1965 and 1971 and was also involved in Indian peacekeeping missions . He was commissioned into the Air Force in 1956 and witnessed the remarkable moment, firsthand, when 93,000 Pakistani soldiers gave up arms before Lt General Jagjit Singh Arora.

In the historic picture of the 1971 victory, Ojha is seen looking over the shoulders of Air Marshal Hari Chand Dewan and Lt Gen Sagat Singh as Lt Gen Arora watches Pakistan General AAK Niazi sign the instrument of surrender on Dec 16, 1971.

Wing Commander Ojha (retd) was cremated at Mahadev Crematorium at 11.30am Monday. Chhattisgarh governor Ramen Deka and chief minister Vishnudeo Sai paid tribute to the air warrior.

“Salute to a brave soldier who dedicated his all to protect Mother India,” said Deka. Sai called him a “brave warrior of the nation”.