War’71 hero Lt Gen Jacob no more

Indian Lt Gen J F R Jacob (retd), who negotiated the surrender of Pakistani troops in Dhaka following the 1971 war, passed away on Wednesday.

Jacob, who was 92, breathed his last this morning after prolonged illness, army sources said.

Born in 1923 in what was then Bengal Presidency under British-ruled India, Jacob is best known for his role in the liberation of Bangladesh in December, 1971.

Jacob, then a Major General, served as the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army`s Eastern Command during the war.

Jacob joined the army at the age of 19 and also fought in World War II and the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 before he retired in 1978.

Post retirement, he also served as the Governor of Western Indian state of Goa and north Indian state of Punjab.