in 1942, malla joined ina. his devotion to duty coupled with other skills elevated him to the rank of a major in ina and he was asked to work in the intelligence wing of the ina. when he was collecting information about the enemy camps, he was caught in action at kohima on 27 march 1944. he was given death sentence by the court of trial at red fort, new delhi. however, before the death sentence was finally executed, the authorities tried to coerce major durga malla into admitting to sedition. his wife was brought to the prison cell but malla did not succumb to the pressure.