India honours Wing Commander Abhinandan with Vir Chakra

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 06 Jan 2023

Delhi: IAF pilot and Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman were awarded the Vir Chakra, the third-highest Indian military honour during wartime Monday.

As per the Indian media, Abhinandan has been bestowed with the honour of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind for "shooting down a Pakistani F-16 plane during the February 2019 dogfight".

Abhinandan was awarded today in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Abhinandan Varthaman was arrested in 2019 by Pakistani forces after his MiG 21 aircraft was shot down by Pakistan Air Force (PAF). He was subsequently released a couple of days later by Pakistan as a "peace gesture" by Prime Minister Imran Khan to India.