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Rare military document on display in Dehra Dun

The famous 1971 'Instrument of Surrender', by which the Pakistan army laid down arms before India, is on display in the Indian Military Academy's Chetwode museum at Dehra Dun.

On October 8, Major General Lachman Singh Lehl, who signed the document for India, had presented it to the academy in an impressive ceremony.

The document was hand-written by a Pakistani draughtsman from the intelligence staff of 16 Pak Infantry Division while Brigadier J S Bakshi, commander, 304 Mountain Brigade Group, dictated the text. It was signed between Major General Lehl, who was then general officer commanding, 20 Mountain Division, and Pakistan's Major General Nazar Hussain Shah, GoC, 16 infantry division, at Bogra in East Pakistan.

The text reads: ''May it be known to all that I, Major Gen Nazar Hussain Shah, GoC, 16 infantry division, Pak army do hereby surrender unconditionally to Major General Lachhman Singh Lehl, GoC 20 mountain division, Indian army and order all military and paramilitary forces under my command to lay down their arms. Henceforth, all orders issued by Maj Gen Lachhman Singh Lehl or any officer appointed by him shall be obeyed by me and all ranks of military and paramilitary forces who are under my command. Signed on this eighteenth day of December 1971 at Bogra.''

Maj Gen Lehl was commissioned in the artillery regiment in 1943 and retired in 1978. He is now the vice-president of the War Decorated Association. His books Indian Sword Strikes in East Pakistan and Victory in Bangladesh give detailed accounts of the wars with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva medal for outstanding leadership in the 1971 war.

UNI

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