Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was martyred during 'Operation Safed Sagar'. His widow, Alka Ahuja, revealed her reaction when she learned of his disappearance.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleOni Sen’s show, Operation Safed Sagar, is garnering a lot of attention as it is currently streaming on Netflix. The show focuses on Operation Safed Sagar, a pivotal operation during the 1999 Kargil War. One of the main officers of the operation was Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, who was killed after being captured on May 27, 1999. Now, an unseen video of Ajay Ahuja’s widow is making the rounds, in which she spoke about receiving the unfortunate news of her husband going missing.
In an unseen video, Ajay Ahuja’s widow, Alka Ahuja, spoke about the moment she got to know her husband was missing. In the video, Alka narrated that she sensed something was wrong when a station commander visited her home on May 27, 1999, wearing the official uniform of the Indian Air Force. In the video, Alka narrated that generally no senior officer visits one’s home in uniform, and it only happens when something goes wrong.
When Alka asked the officer about his visit, he told her that ‘Ahuja has ejected and he is missing’. In the same video, Alka revealed that she doesn’t believe that he is no more as she was not even shown his body. Speaking about the same, she said:
“Mai ye maanke nahi chalti ki he is no more. Mujhe unhone last me body nahi dekhne di. Unhone kaha ki nahi tu body mat dekh, nahi to tujhko zindagi bhar ye hi shakal yaad rahegi. And I feel ki acha kiya mujhe body nahi dekhne di, kyuki mere paas ek hope hai: Ajay apne ussi smiling face me mere saamne khade honge.”
Ajay Ahuja was posted at Bhisiana air base near Bathinda in Punjab when the Kargil War broke out between India and Pakistan. During the intense phase of the Kargil War, on May 27, 1999, the Indian Air Force commenced combat missions under Operation Safed Sagar, with the aim of providing support to the Indian Army.
As part of the operation, Ajay was tasked with carrying out a photo reconnaissance of enemy positions. During his task, he got to know that Flight Lieutenant K. Nachiketa had ejected after suffering an engine flame-out. Without caring about his own safety, Ajay went to locate Nachiketa despite being in enemy territory.
He identified Nachiketa’s location and passed on the information to the authorities, who initiated the rescue operation. But when he continued the search, his own aircraft, MiG-21MF, was attacked by the enemy. Despite knowing that his aircraft was hit, the brave officer steered the aircraft away from populated areas to minimize collateral risk and ejected from the aircraft.
According to the data released by the Indian Air Force, Ajay’s aircraft had crossed the Line of Control and was captured by the Pakistani army. When Ajay Ahuja ejected from his aircraft, he was still alive before the Pakistani troops captured and killed him. When Ajay’s body was handed over to the Indian authorities, a post-mortem was conducted, which revealed two fatal bullet wounds and a fractured knee. On May 29, 1999, Ajay’s mortal remains were handed over to his family, and the entire nation mourned the loss of a brave officer.
Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was an epitome of bravery. Despite knowing the risk, he saved his fellow officer and fulfilled his oath, ‘Service Before Self’.
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