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Ram Nath Kovind
Image: PIB

Indian President awards Vir Chakra to Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman

| @indiablooms | Nov 23, 2021, at 12:06 am

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday awarded Vir Chakra to Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman during an event at the Raj Bhawan here.

Varthaman is best remembered as he shot down a Pakistani F-16 jet during a dogfight over the Line of Control (LoC) on Feb 27, 2019.

Vir Chakra,which was handed to him, is India’s third highest wartime gallantry award.

India found a new national hero in Abhinandan in 2019.

Amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan, Abhinandan Varthaman was taken into custody after his MiG-21 jet was downed during an engagement along the Line of Control (LoC).

Pakistan later released him.
 

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