nWing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became a household name after he shot down a Pakistani F-16 and was later captured when his MIG-21 was hit by a missile, has been conferred with Vir Chakra on the eve of Independence Day. This medal is the third highest war time gallantry medal. Some other pilots who took part in the air strikes to destroy terrorist camp in Balakot were conferred with Yudh Seva Medal.
President Ram Nath Kovind, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has approved a total of 132 Awards to armed forces personnel and members of paramilitary Forces. The awards include two Kirti Chakras, one Vir Chakra, 14 Shaurya Chakras, eight Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 90 Sena Medals (Gallantry), five Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), seven Vayu Sena Medals and five Yudh Seva Medals.
Kirti Chakra, the second highest peace time medal was conferred posthumously on Prakash Jadhav of Corps of Engineers. He died fighting terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir. The other Kirti Chakra awardee is Deputy Commandant of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Harshpal Singh for his gallant action in Kashmir.
Vir Chakra recipient Varthaman, 36, was captured by the Pakistan Army on February 27 this year after his MIG-21 Bison jet was shot down by a missile during a dog fight with the Pakistani jets when they intruded into the Indian air space in Rajouri sector of Jammu & Kashmir. At least four to five Pakistani jets tried to hit Indian military installations in retaliation to the IAF air strikes in Balakot in Pakistan a day earlier.
Varthaman was part of the IAF team guarding the Rajouri sector and successfully chased away the Pakistani jets and shot down a Pakistani F-16 before getting hit. He bailed out and landed in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). The pilot was released and returned to India two days later to a hero’s welcome. He had suffered injuries while ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison during the aerial combat.
A high-level medical board of the IAF has cleared Varthaman to return to the fighter cockpit. He may resume fighter flying soon.
Woman officer 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 Medals. At least five Mirage fighter pilots, who were part of the operation to strike a Jaish-e-Mohmamed(JeM) terrorist training camp in Balakot on February 26, were among the awardees. The raid was carried out after the Pulwama incident on February 14 where 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a suicide attack.
The Army also got eight Shaurya Chakra awards and 98 Sena medals. The Navy got one Shaurya Chakra award.