Abhinandan Varthaman Conferred With Vir Chakra
Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman on Monday receives the Vir Chakra.
The Pulwama terror attack in Jammu Kashmir was conducted by the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The attack occurred on 14 February 2019. It claimed the lives of 40 Indian soldiers. 2 weeks later on 26 February India conducted an air strike in Pakistan’s Balakot and destroyed the JeM’s terror camp. In response to the air strike, Pakistan conducted an aerial attack on India on 27 February with the aim to destroy India’s military bases. When Pakistan attacked, Varthaman Abhinandan, a pilot with the Indian Air Force, attacked and shot down a Pakistani plane. Soon after, Abhinandan was shot down in Pakistan territory and he was captured by the Pakistan army.
Pakistan was forced to release him on March 1 of that year following pressure from the Indian side and the international community. Now Abhinandan has been promoted and the Indian government has also given him the Vir Chakra award. Vir Chakra is an Indian wartime military bravery award presented for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield. Vir Chakra is the third-highest wart Indian military honor after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Chakra.
