23 July 2012 Last updated at 03:53 ET

India independence heroine Lakshmi Sehgal dies

Captain Lakshmi Sehgal Captain Sehgal fought against the British rule in India

Lakshmi Sehgal, a close aide of Indian independence hero Subhash Chandra Bose, has died.

She was admitted to hospital last week after a heart attack and was reported to be in a "very critical" condition.

She was active in the fight against British rule in India and commanded the women's force of Bose's Indian National Army.

Mrs Sehgal, 97, was a doctor by profession. In 1998, she was awarded the civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan.

In 1971, Mrs Sehgal joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and represented the party in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament.

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