The Hindu : IMA displays Niazi's revolver

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Tuesday, Jul 01, 2003

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IMA displays Niazi's revolver

The Indian Military Academy Commandant, Lt. Gen. T.S. Shergill, showing the revolver handed over by Lt. Gen. A. K. Niazi during Pakistan's surrender in the 1971 war, at the academy in Dehra Dun on Monday. — PTI

Dehra Dun June 30. The Indian Military Academy (IMA) today displayed before the media the revolver handed over by Lt. Gen. A.K.A. Niazi, during Pakistan's surrender in the 1971 war and said the security around the museum where it has been kept was being strengthened in view of the theft of a pistol from the National Museum in New Delhi last week.

The pistol, which was earlier believed to have belonged to Lt. Gen. Niazi, went missing on Saturday from the Maritime Heritage Gallery.

The IMA Commandant, Lt. Gen. T.S. Shergill, displaying the revolver and photographs showing its surrender to Lt. Gen. J.S. Aurora, Army's Eastern Commander in Dhaka, said "the priceless symbol of our glorious victory was brought to the alma mater and presented to the then IMA Commandant, Lt. Gen. M.Thomas, on December 9, 1982 by Aurora during the golden jubilee celebrations.''

The revolver, which came from the Eastern Command at Kolkotta where it was lying since the surrender ceremony, had been at the IMA museum here since then, he told reporters.

The weapon "has a very emotive value and is a source of inspiration for out cadets and future Army officers," Lt. Gen. Shergill said.

The IMA chief showed a photograph of the handing over of the weapon by Lt. Gen. Aurora to Lt. Gen. M. Thomas in 1982.

On the left side of the weapon is written "Lt. Gen. Niazi's personal weapon" and on the other "surrendered to Lt. Gen. Aurora PVSM, 1971".

PTI

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