Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be conferred with India’s highest gallantry medal, the Vir Chakra. Confirming the news. Iandian Air Force official has said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Vardhman and five other pilots who fought Pakistan during the Balakot strike will be conferred with gallantry medal.
Wing commander Abhinandan’s contribution was of immense calibre. Even as the wing commander was injured while fighting Pakistan, he downed a Pakistani F-16 before his jet was hit and he had to eject in Pakistan. During the aerial combat in the skies with Pakistan, Wing Commander suffered injuries before ejecting his MiG -21. India’s blue eyed boy Wing Commander Avinandan Vartaman to be conferred with Vir Chakra on Independence Day eve in Rasthrapati Bhawan.
The Wing Commander was part of country’s 26th February’s air strike on Balakot, the air strike was aimed to wipe out Jaish-e-Mohammed terror training camp in Pakistan, who were behind the Pulwama attack on last February 14, which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Following the attack, Indian Air Force carried out a aerial counter terrorism attack to Balakot.
That time Abhinandan was caught by Pakistan after his MIG-21 Bison fighter jet went down across the LOC on February 27. Three days after a major dog fight and diplomatic tussle, Avinandan was returned to India through Wagah-Attari border on 30th February. President Ram Nath Kovind will confer him with Vir Chakra, country’s third gallantry award.
A statement, issued by Defence Ministry on Monday stated: “President Ram Nath Kovind, who is also the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, has approved 132 awards to armed forces personnel and members of paramilitary forces.” The statement added that These include two Kirti Chakras, one Vir Chakra, 14 Shaurya Chakras, 98 Sena Medals (Gallantry), five Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), seven Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Yudh Seva Medals.
Kirti Chakra, the second-highest peacetime gallantry award was posthumously awarded to Sapper Prakash Jadhav for his role in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir. The Army also got eight Shaurya Chakras, 98 Sena Medals (Gallantry) and four Mention-in-Dispatches.
