Former Army Chief General KV Krishna Rao, who played a key role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, has died due to cardiac arrest at the age of 92. Rao also served as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir at a time when militancy was at its peak in the state. Rao was the 14th Chief of the Army Staff of Indian Army and had an illustrious career spanning over four decades in the force. He was commissioned into the Army on August 9, 1942.

 Rao’s Career 

• As a young officer, he had served in Burma, North West Frontier and Baluchistan during the Second World War.
• He also participated in the 1947-48 war against Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. He was a founder Instructor of theNational Defence Academy during 1949-51.
• Rao had commanded a brigade in the forward area of Ladakh during 1965-66, an infantry division in Jammu Region during 1969-70 and a Mountain Division engaged in counter insurgency operations in Nagaland and Manipur during 1970-72.
• During this period, his Division also participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan War in Eastern Theatre and was instrumental in the capture of Sylhet area and liberation of North-East Bangladesh.

Rao was appointed as Chief of Army Staff on June 1, 1981 and served in that capacity till July 1983. He was also the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, the highest appointment in the Services, during March 1982 to July 1983.

From June 1984 to July 1989, Rao was the Governor of the North Eastern States of Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura. He was also the Governor of Mizoram in June 1988, and March to July 1989. Rao was appointed as the the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir during 1989-90.