Sonia Gandhi condoles the death of former Army Chief KV Krishna Rao

NEW DELHI: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today condoled the death of former Army Chief General K V Krishna Rao and described him as the brave son of India who played exmplary role during the Bangladesh war in 1971.

She said that Rao always led by example and his contributions as Governor in sensitive states like Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura can never be forgotten, a statement said.

A decorated Chief of Army Staff, Rao, who played a key role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, died yesterday at the military hospital here following a cardiac arrest at the age of 92.

He was "a brave son of India who played an exemplary role during the 1971 Bangladesh War and always led by example," Gandhi said.

Rao served as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir at a time when militancy was at its peak in the state.

He was commissioned into the Army on August 9, 1942. As a young officer, he had served in Burma, North West Frontier and Baluchistan during the Second World War.

During extensive Punjab disturbances in the run up to the partition in 1947, he served both in East and West Punjab.

Rao had commanded a brigade in the forward area of Ladakh during 1965-66, an infantry division in Jammu Region during 1969-70 and a Mountain Division engaged in counter insurgency operations in Nagaland and Manipur during 1970-72.

During this period, his Division also participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan War in Eastern Theatre and was instrumental in the capture of Sylhet area and liberation of North-East Bangladesh. He was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal for displaying outstanding leadership, courage, determination and drive during this war.