Ajay Ahuja

{{Short description|Indian fighter pilot killed during the Kargil War}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Squadron Leader | name = Ajay Ahuja | honorific_suffix = VrC | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | 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, India | death_place = Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir (now Ladakh) | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = Aj | birth_name = | allegiance = {{flag|India}} | branch = {{air force|India|}} | service_years = 1985–1999 | rank = 15px Squadron Leader | service_number = | unit = No. 17 Squadron (''Golden Arrows'') | commands = | battles = | battles_label = | awards = {{flagicon image|Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg|20px}} Vir Chakra | spouse = Alka Ahuja<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000610/windows/main4.htm|title=The Tribune - Windows - Featured story}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> | children = 1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000610/windows/main4.htm|title=The Tribune - Windows - Featured story}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> | relations = | other_work = | signature = | website =  }} Squadron leader '''Ajay Ahuja''' {{Small|VrC}} ({{Birth date|1963|5|22|df=y}} – {{Death date|1999|5|27|df=y}}) was a fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force who was killed in action during the Kargil War between India and Pakistan in 1999. His MiG-21 was hit by a Pakistani shoulder-fired FIM-92 Stinger near the town of Kargil in the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Ahuja ejected from the aircraft and parachuted on to the ground. Upon landing, he was captured and subsequently killed by Pakistan troops. While Pakistan rejected these events, A post-mortem report conducted on Ahuja's body after it was recovered and returned to India showed that he had a fractured knee alongside two fatal bullet wounds to his head and chest.<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|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>

Reports by the Indian media of Ahuja's capture and killing by Pakistani troops during the conflict sparked a major uproar within India.

== Early life and military career == Ajay was born on 22 May 1963 in Kota, Rajasthan, India. He attended Saint Paul's Senior Secondary School, a renowned missionary school for boys. He graduated from the Indian National Defence Academy and was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 14 June 1985. Ahuja was promoted to the rank of squadron leader on 14 June 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Service Record for Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja 17864 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/17864 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref>

As a fighter pilot, he toured on MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighter aircraft, and gained instructional flying experience of over 1,000 hours that was spent teaching ''ab-initio'' pilots. In 1997, Ahuja was posted to the Bhisiana Air Force Station in Bhatinda, Punjab.<ref name=CNNIBNahuja/> Shortly after his assignment to the role of flight commander with the No. 17 Squadron, the Kargil War had broken out between India and Pakistan in 1999.

== Kargil War and shoot-down by Pakistani forces == On 27 May 1999, as part of ''Operation Safed Sagar'' during Kargil War, Squadron leader Ahuja was undertaking a photo reconnaissance mission. While another member of the mission package, Flight lieutenant Nachiketa ejected from his MiG-27L 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> Squadron leader Ahuja stayed over enemy positions to help the rescue attempts knowing full well the existence of enemy surface-to-air missiles in the area. However, his MiG-21MF fighter, C-1539,<ref name="AFM"/> was hit by a Pakistani 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 crossed the Line of Control, into the Pakistani area. Where he was captured and killed by Pakistan army personnel, after he landed. After his body was recovered, a post-mortem examination was conducted. The report revealed two fatal bullet wounds and a fractured knee, the latter likely sustained during landing after ejection, indicating that he was alive upon landing. However, this incident strictly rejected by Pakistan. <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/> Squadron leader Ahuja's body would be recovered by the men of the 10th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/15O-qyitKUw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210318111526/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15O-qyitKUw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15O-qyitKUw| title = Fifty Day War : Episode 2 | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Return and cremation == On 29 May 1999, Ahuja's body was flown to a local Air Force station by the Indian Air Force. Angry public demonstrations broke out there, at his cremation, and near the High Commission of Pakistan in Delhi.<ref name="tribuneAhuja" />

== Reaction and aftermath == On 15 June 1999, Deputy High Commissioner of the Pakistani High Commission 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 |accessdate=29 March 2012 |work=Foreign Affairs Record 1999 |publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India}}</ref> The Government of India also lodged a protest with Pakistan's High Commissioner, accusing the Pakistani forces of having fired at Ahuja 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}}

== 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.]] Ahuja remains a great hero for Indians, and his widow and family are often honored 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 constructed by the Bhatinda-Muktsar road.<ref name="tribuneAhuja"/>

On 15 August 1999, India's 52nd anniversary of Independence, Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was awarded the Vir Chakra shortly after his death which is 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}}

Category:Indian Air Force officers Category:Indian military 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:Indian Sindhi people Category:Indian military personnel killed in action Category:Aviators killed by being shot down