Former Governor Lt. General S.K. Sinha passes away

New Delhi: Lt. General S.K. Sinha, a former Governor of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday. He was 90.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar condoled his death.

"Deeply saddened to learn of the demise of Lt. Gen. Srinivas K. Sinha (retd), the former Governor of J&K and Assam," tweeted Modi.

"Had the opportunity of meeting him just a few days ago. His service to our nation will always be remembered," he added.

The General commanded 5 Gorkha Rifles battalion in Ladakh, a brigade in Manipur, a Mountain Division in Assam, Infantry Division in Jammu, a corps and a field army in the western theatre.

He also had the distinction of serving as Adjutant General and Vice-Chief of Army Staff.

"My condolences on the passing away of Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha, one of our finest military leaders who epitomised grace and grit under adversity," Parrikar tweeted.

A Defence Ministry statement said: "During his career, Sinha, in 1949, was appointed secretary of the Indian delegation for delineation of the ceasefire line in Kashmir."

"In 1972, he led the Indian delegation to Italy for a conference on application of human rights to warfare. In recognition of his services, he was awarded the Param Vishist Sewa Medal in 1973," it added.

"As a statesman, Sinha was appointed India's ambassador to Nepal in 1990. Appreciative of his work, the then Prime Minister of Nepal had said that 'General Sinha was as much India's Ambassador to Nepal as Nepal's Ambassador to India'," said the statement.

He authored five books, including one on Jammu and Kashmir operation of 1947-48 and his autobiography 'A Soldier Recalls'.