WATCH | Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman interacts with colleagues, video goes viral

A video of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in which he can be seen interacting with his colleagues in Jammu and Kashmir is going viral. In the video, Abhinandan can be seen smiling and posing for selfies with IAF personnel, Garud special forces jawans and Defence Security Corps personnel (DSC). He is also heard saying that all photographs being taken of him are for the families of the jawans who prayed for his well being.

#WATCH Viral video from Jammu & Kashmir: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman interacting with his colleagues in Jammu and Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/rLwC4d1GUA

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2019

Last month, the Indian Air Force transferred Abhinandan Varthaman out of the Srinagar airbase amid concerns over his security. He has now been posted to an important airbase in the Western sector. “The posting order of the officer has been issued and he would soon be moving out of the Srinagar airbase to his new place of posting,” ANI quoted government sources as saying.   

The sources further revealed that the new posting is also a fighter base and if the officer is cleared for flying, he would be able to continue his flying duties.

Abhinandan, who was held captive for around 60 hours in Pakistan after being captured during a dogfight on February 27, was last month advised to go on sick leave for at least three weeks before resuming duty. However, he chose to go back to his squadron in Srinagar rather than spending time with his family in Chennai. 

He was captured by Pakistani authorities on February 27 after his MiG 21 Bison went down during a dogfight with Pakistani jets. But before his plane was hit, Varthaman shot down an F-16 of Pakistan Air Force.

After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and others.

Recently, the IAF recommended Varthaman for the wartime gallantry medal Vir Chakra for shooting down an F-16 in aerial conflict with Pakistan. While Abhinandan has been recommended for the Vir Chakra, the 12 Mirage 2000 pilots who bombed targets in Pakistan are being recommended for the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry for their acts of bravery, government sources said.

The Vir Chakra is the third highest gallantry award in the military during the times of war after the Param Vir Chakra and the Mahavir Chakra.