Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the hero of Balakot air-strike, who shot down an F-16 during Balakot air-strike, has been promoted to the rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force on Wednesday.
Abhinandan is said to be the only Mig-21 pilot ever to have shot down an F-16. He was earlier awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery during the 2019 February air strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan.
He shot down the F-16 over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and was later held captive by Pakistan army after his plane was shot down.
The whole of India prayed for Abhinandan then, and even he maintained his composure and didn’t surrender in front of the enemy forces.
Abhinandan was part of the Srinagar-based 51 squadron and his unit received a citation for its role in thwarting the Pakistan Air Force’s aerial attack on February 27, 2019.
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India had carried out the strikes in response to a Jaish-e-Mohammed attack on a CRPF convoy.