1965 war hero, IAF’s only 5-star rank officer, dies at 98

The only five-star rank officer with the Indian Air Force (IAF), Marshal Arjan Singh, died on Saturday at the age of 98. He was hospitalised earlier in the day after he complained of uneasiness. He then suffered a cardiac arrest and was stated to be in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with IAF Chief BS Dhanoa, visited the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi to inquire about his health, shortly before he passed away.

Modi tweeted: “India will never forget the excellent leadership of Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh in 1965, when the IAF saw substantial action. Sometime back I met him, who despite his ill health tried to get up to salute even though I said no. Such was his soldier discipline.” He further tweeted: “My thoughts are with his family and those mourning the demise of a distinguished air warrior and fine human, Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh. RIP.”

Paying a tribute, President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted: “Deeply saddened by the demise of Arjan Singh Marshal of Indian Air Force. My sincere condolences. May his soul rest in peace.”

An icon of the Indian military history, Singh had led a …read more