Former J&K Governor SK Sinha passes away

New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen S.K. Sinha passed away at a hospital here on Thursday morning after a brief illness. He was 92.

His family said he passed away at 10:45 am at the Army Research and Referral hospital.

He was first admitted to the base hospital here on November 1 with a fracture in his femur bone and ribs and was later shifted to the R and R hospital after some complications developed.

He is survived by his wife, son — Y.K. Sinha, an IFS officer who is at present Indian ambassador to Sri Lanka and is moving for his new posting to the UK — and three daughters.

They said his funeral will take place on Friday at the Brar Square crematorium here. Mr Sinha has served as the Jammu and Kashmir Governor and led the first batch of Indian troops who entered J&K when Pakistan raiders invaded in 1947.

He resigned from service after the government superseded him and appointed General A.S. Vaidya as the new army chief. Lt Gen Sinha had joined army in 1943 and has also served as India’s Ambassador to Nepal and was the Governor of Assam.

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and his son and former J&K CM Omar Abdullah condoled his death. “Very sorry to hear of the demise of Lt Gen Sinha, former Governor of J&K. May his soul rest in peace.” Mr Omar Abdullah tweeted.