Ajay Ahuja Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja , VrC was a fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force who was tortured and killed by the Pakistani forces in the 1999 Kargil War in Kashmir . His death was the cause of the most angry public conflagration between India and Pakistan at the time . Early life and career . Ajay Ahuja was born in Kota , Rajasthan . He did his schooling from Saint Paul ' s Senior Secondary School , Mala Road Kota , a renowned missionary school for boys . He graduated from the National Defence Academy ( India ) and was commissioned a fighter pilot on June 14 , 1985 in the IAF . As a fighter pilot he toured on the MiG - 23 fighter - bomber and MiG - 21 variants , as well as instructional flying experience of over 1 , 000 hours spent teaching ab - initio pilots . Squadron Leader Ahuja was posted to the Killi Bhisiana Airbase at Bhatinda , Punjab , India in 1997 . He had only just become the Flight Commander of Squadron No . 17 " Golden Arrows " ( a specialist photo - reconnaissance squadron ) , when the Kargil War broke out in May – June 1999 . War Operations . On May 27 , 1999 , as part of " Operation Safed Sagar " in Kargil , a photo reconnaissance mission was launched over the Indian side of the line of control in Kashmir . A member of the mission , Flt Lt Nachiketa ejected from his MiG - 27 L after an engine flame out . Sqn Ldr Ahuja stayed over enemy positions to help the rescue attempts knowing full well the existence of enemy surface - to - air missile s in the area . However , his MiG - 21 MF fighter , C - 1539 , was hit by a shoulder - fired FIM - 92 Stinger . Ahuja gave a radio call – " " Hercules , something has hit my plane , possibility of missile hit cannot be ruled out , I am ejecting over . . . ( location ) . " " . IAF authorities lost track of his aircraft and all communication shortly afterward . Circumstances of death . According to the data released by the IAF , Ahuja ' s aircraft had been within the Indian side of the " Line of Control " , a ceasefire line and pseudo - border agreed upon by India and Pakistan in the early 1970s to maintain status quo in Kashmir . A post - mortem examination conducted at the Srinagar Base Hospital claimed that Ahuja had landed safely after ejecting from his plane , but had been killed later by Pakistani soldiers . The post - mortem report of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja spoke of three grievous wounds : It was reported that the left knee fracture was sustained when he parachuted down , but the gunshots show that he landed alive and was shot . And his death was called as a cold blooded murder . Reaction and aftermath . On 15 June 1999 The Deputy high commissioner of the Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi was summoned and a notice for the breach of Geneva conventions was submitted for the tortue and killing of the prisoners of War during the Kargil War . The Government of India lodged a protest with Pakistan ' s ambassador , accusing the Pakistani paramilitary forces of having fired at Ajay while still descending in his parachute . Pakistani authorities denied the accusations and suggested Ahuja was killed due to accidental injuries during the ejection or landing . No further investigations were carried out by either government nor impartial , outside entities and the case remains unresolved . Return and cremation . On May 29 , 1999 , Ahuja ' s body was flown to the local Air Force station from Srinagar by an Indian Air Force plane . Angry public demonstrations broke out there , at his cremation , and near the Pakistani embassy in Delhi . Commemoration . Ahuja remains a great hero for Indians , and his widow and family are often honored guests at patriotic public events and official ceremonies . The family received much support from Government authorities and Indian political leaders , as well as emotional and financial support from people across India . A statue of Ahuja was installed at the nearby crossing on the Bhatinda - Muktsar road . On August 15 , 1999 , India ' s 52nd anniversary of Independence , Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra , one of India ' s highest gallantry honors for military personnel .