Ajay Ahuja

2021-06-16T12:20:55Z

157.33.119.234:

{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
|honorific_prefix = [[Squadron Leader]]
|name =Ajay Ahuja
|honorific_suffix = [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
|native_name =
|native_name_lang =
|image =
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|birth_date ={{Birth date|df=yes|1963|05|22}}
|death_date ={{Death date and age|df=yes|1999|05|27|1963|05|22}}
|birth_place =[[Kota, Rajasthan]]
|death_place =[[Kargil]], Jammu and Kashmir
|placeofburial =
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|allegiance ={{flag|India|23px}}
|branch ={{air force|India|23px}}
|serviceyears =1985–1999
|rank =[[File:Squadron Leader of IAF.png|32px]] [[Squadron Leader]]
|servicenumber =
|unit =''Golden Arrows'' – Squadron No. 17
|commands =
|battles =
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|awards =[[File:Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg|32px]] [[Vir Chakra]]
|spouse = Alka Ahuja <ref>https://m.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000610/windows/main4.htm</ref>
|children = Ankur Ahuja <ref>https://m.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000610/windows/main4.htm</ref>
|relations =
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|website = 
}}
[[Squadron Leader]] '''Ajay Ahuja''', [[Vir Chakra|VrC]] was a [[fighter pilot]] of the [[Indian Air Force]] who was murdered by Pakistani soldiers after he was captured when his aircraft was shot down during the 1999 [[Kargil War]] in [[Kashmir]].<ref name="tribuneAhuja">{{cite news|last=Tribune News Service|title=Ahuja was shot at point-blank range: report|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99may31/head1.htm|accessdate=7 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]|date=30 May 1999}}</ref><ref name=CNNIBNahuja>{{cite news|title=Even after 8 years, Kargil continues to haunt|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/even-after-8-years-kagil-continues-to-haunt/45836-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121013405/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/even-after-8-years-kagil-continues-to-haunt/45836-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 January 2013|accessdate=8 January 2012|newspaper=CNN-IBN|date=30 July 2007}}</ref> His death was the cause of the most angry public conflagration between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] at the time.

== Early life and career ==
Ajay Ahuja was born in [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]], Rajasthan. He did his schooling from Saint Paul's Senior Secondary School, Mala Road Kota, a renowned missionary school for boys. He graduated from the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defense Academy]] and was commissioned a fighter pilot on 14 June 1985 in the IAF.

As a fighter pilot he toured on the [[MiG-23]] fighter-bomber and [[MiG-21]] variants, as well as instructional flying experience of over 1,000 hours spent teaching ab-initio pilots. Squadron Leader Ahuja was posted to the Killi Bhisiana Airbase at [[Bhatinda]], [[Punjab, India]] in 1997.<ref name=CNNIBNahuja/> He had only just become the Flight Commander of Squadron No.17 ''Golden Arrows'' (a specialist photo-reconnaissance squadron), when the [[Kargil War]] broke out in May–June 1999.

== War Operations ==
On 27 May 1999, as part of ''Operation Safed Sagar'' in [[Kargil district|Kargil]], a photo reconnaissance mission was launched over the Indian side of the line of control in [[Kashmir]]. A member of the mission, [[Flt Lt Nachiketa]] ejected from his [[MiG-27]]L after an engine [[flame out]].<ref name="AFM">{{cite journal|title=none|date=July 1999|journal=[[Air Forces Monthly]]|publisher=Key Publishing Limited|location=Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK|issue= 136|pages=74–75|issn=0955-7091}}</ref> Sqn Ldr Ahuja stayed over enemy positions to help the rescue attempts knowing full well the existence of enemy [[surface-to-air missile]]s in the area. However, his [[MiG-21]]MF fighter, C-1539,<ref name="AFM"/> was hit by a shoulder-fired [[FIM-92 Stinger]]. Ahuja gave a radio call – ''"Hercules, something has hit my plane, possibility of missile hit cannot be ruled out, I am ejecting over...(location)."''. IAF authorities lost track of his aircraft and all communication shortly afterward.

== Circumstances of death ==
According to the data released by the Indian Air Force, Ahuja's aircraft had been within the Indian side of the ''Line of Control'', a ceasefire line and pseudo-border agreed upon by [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] in the early 1970s to maintain status quo in Kashmir. A post-mortem examination conducted at the Srinagar Base Hospital claimed that Ahuja had landed safely after ejecting from his plane, but had been killed later by Pakistani soldiers.<ref name="AFM"/><ref name=rediffNachiketa>{{cite news|title=The family is both proud of Nachiketa and concerned about his well-being|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/may/30kash7.htm|accessdate=7 January 2012|newspaper=Rediff News|date=30 May 1999}}</ref><ref name=CNNIBNahuja/>

The post-mortem report of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja spoke of three grievous wounds:<ref name=rediffNachiketa/><ref name="tribuneAhuja"/>
#There is a penetrating gunshot wound; entry near right ear, exit near the external orifice of left ear.
#Gunshot wound: entry 2 cm medial to right nipple, exit near left iliac crest damaging internal viscera like liver, intestine and peritonium.
#Compound comminuted fracture left knee.
#Suffered multiple punctured wounds over left and right thighs, rupture of right lung, injury to neck vessels, small intestine and left liver.
It was reported that the left knee fracture was sustained when he parachuted down, but the gunshots show that he landed alive and was shot. And his death was called as a cold blooded murder.<ref name=BBCahuja>{{cite news|title=Kargil conflict timeline|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/387702.stm|accessdate=8 January 2012|newspaper=BBC news|date=30 May 1999}}</ref><ref name=rediffNachiketa/>

== Reaction and aftermath ==
On 15 June 1999 The Deputy high commissioner of the Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi was summoned and a notice for the breach of Geneva conventions was submitted for the torture and killing of the prisoners of War during the Kargil War.<ref name=ministry_record99>{{cite web|title=Breach of Geneva Convention by Pak armed forces|url=http://mealib.nic.in/far/1999.pdf|work=Foreign Affairs Record 1999|publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India|accessdate=29 March 2012}}</ref> The Government of India lodged a protest with Pakistan's ambassador, accusing the Pakistani paramilitary forces of having fired at Ajay while still descending in his parachute. Pakistani authorities denied the accusations and suggested Ahuja was killed due to accidental injuries during the ejection or landing.{{Cn|date=January 2012}} No further investigations were carried out by either government nor impartial, outside entities and the case remains unresolved.{{Cn|date=January 2012}}

== Return and cremation ==
On 29 May 1999, Ahuja's body was flown to the local Air Force station from Srinagar by an Indian Air Force plane. Angry public demonstrations broke out there, at his cremation, and near the Pakistani embassy in [[Delhi]].<ref name="tribuneAhuja"/>

== Commemoration ==
[[File:National War Memorial, Tyag Chakra, Circle of Sacrifice, Ajay Ahuja.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja's name on the Tyag Chakra (Circle of Sacrifice), [[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial]], India.]]
Ahuja remains a great hero for Indians, and his widow and family are often honoured guests at patriotic public events and official ceremonies. The family received much support from Government authorities and Indian political leaders, as well as emotional and financial support from people across India. A statue of Ahuja was installed at the nearby crossing on the Bhatinda-Muktsar road.<ref name="tribuneAhuja"/>

On 15 August 1999, India's 52nd anniversary of Independence, Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was posthumously awarded the [[Vir Chakra]], one of India's highest gallantry honours for military personnel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SQUADRON LEADER AJAY AHUJA {{!}} Gallantry Awards|url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/squadron-leader-ajay-ahuja|access-date=2020-06-24|website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Kargil War]]
*[[Military of India]]

== References ==
;Notes
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahuja, Ajay}}

[[Category:Indian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Indian aviators]]
[[Category:People of the Kargil War]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Kota, Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Sindhi people]]
[[Category:Indian military personnel killed in action]]
[[Category:Aviators killed by being shot down]]

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Ajay Ahuja