Vir Chakra award to Wing Commander Abhinandan on this Independence Day

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force will be going to be honoured with Vir Chakra on this Independence Day. Abhinandan Varthaman had shot down F-16 jet of Pakistan Air Force and returned to India after 3 days prison in Pakistan.

India After Pulwama attack, Responding to the IAF strikes on the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) hit back by sending fighters to hit Indian targets on February 27. Indian fighters chased them away. At some point, the Indian fighters were asked to “turn-cold” – aviation terminology asking fighters to abandon the chase of enemy aircraft. Wing Commander Varthaman, however, continued chasing the Pakistani fighter as he could not hear instructions asking him to turn back because his communications system was jammed by the enemy, according to Indian Air Force (IAF) and government officials familiar with the matter who have renewed a long-standing demand for anti-jamming technology.

Abhinandan became the face of the military between India and Pakistan in February this year, and by keeping this in mind the government has decided to honour him on this Independence day with Vir Chakra award, presented for acts of bravery on the Battlefield.