evidence: With Japan’s surrender on 14th August 1945, came the end of the war and the British began to repatriate the INA soldiers and officers to India. The British refused to give them the status of ‘prisoners of war’ and labelled them as traitors and deserters. Thousands of returning INA soldiers began to enlighten their story about their leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. While the British authorities considered how and when to put these men on trial, popular adoration, respect and support spread like wild-fire and the demand for the release of the INA men and women increased rapidly. Bose was the man of the hour and his dream and strategy unfolded dramatically even in his absence. When the three officers of the INA – Captain Shah Nawaz Khan, Captain P.K. Sahgal and Lieutenant G.S. Dhillon were put on trial at the Red Fort – the British did not take long to realise that their game was over. The officers were released and they were hailed by their countrymen as heroes.