16.8.19

Abhinandan Varthaman gets Vir Chakra

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who downed an enemy jet during an aerial combat with Pakistan in February and was held captive for three days, has been conferred the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest war time gallantry medal.

The defence ministry announced the military awards on the eve of Independence Day celebrations.

From the Army, Sapper Prakash Jadhav of Rashtriya Rifles will be posthumously awarded Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award. Jadhav died in a gunfight with terrorists in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir in November 2018.

Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, who played a key role as flight controller during the aerial combat between India and Pakistan on February 27, has been awarded Yudh Seva medal.

The IAF received a total of 13 awards including five Yudh Seva Medals and seven Vayu Sena Medal.

At least five Mirage fighter pilots, part of the operation to strike a Jaish-e-Mohmamed terrorist training camp inside Pakistan’s Balakot on February 27, were among awardees.

The Army also got eight Shaurya Chakra awards and 98 Sena medals. The Navy got one Shaurya Chakra.

IAF fighter jets bombed a JeM terrorist training camp in Balakot on February 26, nearly two weeks after the Pulwama terror attack. It is reported that Pakistan retaliated on February 27 by attempting to target Indian military installations.

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