Wings of Duty — Page 26

Syed Muhammad Ahmad 26 heroes after the war ended. As a result of his persuasion, many of them joined the Indian National Army. But the Japanese lost the war and the Allies arrested the treacherous servicemen. At the end of the war, the British set up a commission to try those troops suspected of treason. They were divided into three groups. The first group comprised high-ranking officers including generals who were heavily involved in the sedition. The second group consisted of those accused of mid-level treason and who were to receive median punishments. The third group, which was also the largest in number, was made up of soldiers suspected of minor complicity and involvement. The latter ended up being removed from their posts. In the case of Deputy Muhammad Latif, not only did he not join the Indian National Army, he remained a Japanese prisoner until the end of the war. Such a charge should never have been levelled against him. But due to the false testimony of a Hindu inmate, he too was removed from his position. Forced into a new job shortly before Partition, he was working as a pilot for a company in Bombay which had bought some surplus American airplanes such as the L-5 after the war had ended. These planes were then sold for Rs