War hero Abhinandan Varthaman awarded Vir Chakra

Indian Air Force ace pilot Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman has been awarded by the Vir Chakra (Acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land or at sea or in the air) by President Ram Nath Kovind in an investiture ceremony on Monday.

Abhinandan Varthaman needs no introduction, everyone knows about his bravery, he showed in aerial combat during the Balakot airstrike. Abhinandan shot down a Pakistani F-16 Aircraft with his MiG-21. In this collision, he flew over Pakistan occupied Kashmir and his MiG-21 was hit and he had to eject over the territory controlled by the enemy.

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Abhinandan Varthaman was then taken into custody by the Pakistan Army. The Pakistan Army was forced to release him due to the extensive pressure exerted by the Indian side along with international intervention into the matter.

“His actions raised the morale of the armed forces in general and the IAF in particular. Wing Commander Varthaman Abhinandan showed conspicuous courage, demonstrated gallantry in the face of the enemy while disregarding personal safety and displayed an exceptional sense of duty,” IAF added.

India had launched an aerial strike on Pakistan’s terrorist facility in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area run by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on February 26.

(The above story is an embed from ANI, with some changes from our Writers)