Abhinandan Varthaman’s 51 squadron to get citation award from Air Chief for Balakot

PTI, Oct 6, 2019, 12:43 PM IST

New Delhi: Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will award a unit citation to the Indian Air Force’s 51 squadron, to which Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman belonged, for thwarting Pakistani aerial attack and shooting down their F-16 fighter aircraft on Feb 27, earlier this year.

The commanding officer Group Captain Satish Pawar will accept the award on behalf of the Squadron on October 8.

During Pakistan’s counter-attack on India in response to the Balakot airstrike, Abhinandan flew a MiG-21 Bison fighter into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Abhinandan was grounded due to ejection from his MiG-21 which was shot down in the aerial conflict with Pakistan Air Force F-16s.

Abhinandan was released by the Pakistan government after pressure was exerted by India and the international community. He was also conferred with the third-highest wartime gallantry award, Vir Chakra on the 73rd Independence Day.

Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal’s 601 Signal unit will also be awarded for their role in Balakot aerial strikes and foiling the aerial attack by Pakistan in February.

The number nine squadron, whose Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft carried out the Balakot aerial strikes on February 26 during ‘Operation Bandar’, will also be awarded.