Date:05/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/05/stories/2007050507631002.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Startling revelations

Karan Thapar's interview with Lieutenant General J.F.R. Jacob (May 4) has certain startling revelations about events prior to and during the conduct of the 1971 Bangladesh war.

Capt. T. Raju,
Secunderabad

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It is unfortunate that Gen. Jacob has made certain claims about the 1971 war when Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw is not in a state to counter them.

Wg. Cdr. P. Mohan (retd.),
Chennai

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Gen. Jacob, an artillery officer of limited combat service, was only the Chief of Staff of the Eastern Command and it meant that he was just the senior-most officer involved in Staff duties at the HQ in 1971. The men who operationally mattered were Lt. Gen. Aurora, the GOC-in -C Eastern Command, and Lt. Gen. Sagat Singh, GOC 4 Corps, who was a distinguished field commander and responsible for the ground operations. Both these fine soldiers are no more and Field Marshal Manekshaw is now confined to the ICU of the military hospital in Wellington.

Col. B.C. Kunneth,
Chennai