IAF's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman Recommended For Vir Chakra For His Bravery
India conducted airstrikes in Pakistan&rsquos Balakot in the early morning hours of February 26. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 as a part of a sortie when he got involved in an aerial fight with Pakistan&RSquos F-16. He was then placed in captivity for 60 hours and on March 1 he returned to India. Now the Indian Air Force has recommended he be given the Vir Chakra medal.
India conducted airstrikes in Pakistan¡¯s Balakot in the early morning hours of February 26. A day after the airstrikes, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 as a part of a sortie when he got involved in an aerial fight with Pakistan¡¯s F-16 and crossed into Pakistan¡¯s territory.
He was then placed in Pakistan¡¯s captivity for 60 hours and on March 1, he returned to India. The whole country celebrated his return to India - people gave him a well-deserved hero's welcome.
Now, the Indian Air Force has recommended Wing Commander Abhinandan for the Vir Chakra medal for shooting down the F-16 on February 27. In the past, pilots who shot down enemy fighters were all given Vir Chakra medals.
The Vir Chakra is the third highest gallantry award in the military, after the Param Vir Chakra and Mahavir Chakra. This decision comes after the IAF fighter pilot was issued transfer orders out of Srinagar to another base in the western sector along the Pakistan border.
The transfer orders came after the security agencies indicated that the officer could be a target of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (it was the same group that claimed responsibility for the February 14 Pulwama attacks).
Wing Commander Abhinandan¡¯s new base is also a fighter base. If he is cleared for flying, he would be able to continue his flying duties.
