NEW DELHI: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by the Pakistan forces after an aerial dogfight in February and was returned to India two days later, has been shifted out of the Srinagar airbase amid concerns over his security in Kashmir Valley.
According to news agency ANI, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has now posted the brave officer to an important airbase in the Western sector.
ANI✔@ANI
Indian Air Force transfers Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman out of the Srinagar airbase amid concerns over his security in Kashmir valley. Officer posted to an important airbase in the Western sector. (File pic)
He was captured by the Pakistani Army on February 27 after his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during a brief aerial combat.
He had downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan before his plane was hit. He had fallen over the Pakistani side of the border and was captured by the Pakistani forces.
Varthaman was released on the night of March 1 by Pakistan.
After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and people in general.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad’s biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26.
Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations the next day. However, the IAF thwarted their plans.
The airstrikes by the IAF on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers.
Prasanta Patnaik