India: IAF pilot Abhinandan awarded India's third-highest gallantry medal

NEW DELHI, 23 November 2021, (TON): Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan in 2019 after his MiG 21 Bison aircraft was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet and later returned to India, was awarded India's third-highest gallantry medal on Monday.

According to the Indian media, Abhinandan received the Vir Chakra the third-highest wartime gallantry award after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Chakra, from Indian President Ram Nath Kovind at an investiture ceremony in the capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were also present at the ceremony.

According to the report, Abhinandan, who was recently promoted from wing commander to group captain, was awarded the medal for "showing conspicuous courage" while shooting down a Pakistani F-16 aircraft in February 2019, a claim that has been rubbished by the Pakistan military, independent observers as well as the international media.

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