Dehra Dun: The Indian Military Academy (IMA) on June 30 displayed before the media the revolver handed over by General A K A Niazi during Pakistan's surrender in the 1971 war and said the security around the museum where it has been kept was being strengthened in view of the theft of a pistol from National Museum last week.

IMA Commandant Lt Gen T S Shergill, displaying the weapon and photographs showing its surrender to Lt Gen J S Aurora, Army's Eastern Commander in Dhaka, said "the priceless symbol of our glorious victory was brought to the alma mater and presented to the then IMA Commandant Lt Gen M Thomas on December 9, 1982 by Aurora during the golden jubilee celebrations."

The revolver that came from the Eastern Command at Kolkotta where it was lying since the surrender ceremony has been at the IMA museum since then, he said.

In view of the theft of a pistol, which was described as Niazi's, from the National Museum in Delhi, Shergill said the security in and around the IMA museum was being strengthened.

'There are several weapons and documents of medieval age kept at the IMA museum and we are going to review our security arrangements,'' he said.

Niazi's weapon, considered as a token of final and unconditional surrender of all his forces on December 16, 1971, "has a very emotive value and is a source of inspiration for out cadets and future Army officers", Lt Gen Shergill said.

The IMA chief also showed a photograph of the handing over of the weapon by Lt Gen Aurora to Lt Gen M Thomas in 1982.

On the left side of the weapon is written "Lt Gen Niazi's personal weapon" and on the other "surrendered to Lt Gen Aurora PVSM, 1971".

PTI