- Indian Air Force wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who had shot down a Pakistani F-16 during a fight over the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27 this year, will be awarded the Vir Chakra on Independence day.
The pilot Varthaman was capture by Pakistan army following the crash of his Jet on Pakistan land, during aerial conflict between India and Pakistan after Balakot airstrike, there he acted bravely and was later released.
Notably, Vir Chakra is the third highest wartime military award in India.
