WG CDR ABHINANDAN, GP CAPT NACHIKETA, SQN LDR AJAY AHUJA : AIR WARRIORS FIRST, PRISONERS-OF-WAR LATER.

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WG CDR ABHINANDAN, GP CAPT NACHIKETA, SQN LDR AJAY AHUJA: AIR WARRIORS FIRST, PRISONERS-OF-WAR LATER.

Introduction


The nation woke up to a surprise on a pleasant February morning with 12 Mirage-2000 Jets crossing the Line Of Control to perform an aerial bombing of the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed's largest headquarters in Balakot, far from the Line of Control in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
What followed next was the response that the Pakistani forces would certainly retaliate. When the Pakistani F-16s violated the Indian airspace, a MiG21 Bison shot it down which crashed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. A MiG 21 Bison was said to be missing in action. An hour or two later a video reached our screens with a man certainly in a miserable condition with his hands tied along with his face partially covered. He was seen introducing himself as Wing Commander Abhiandan Varthaman.
He revealed his service number as  '27981'. This has not been the first time that an Indian pilot has been taken as a PoW by Pakistan. It has refreshed wounds for many.

Gp Capt Kambampatti Nachiketa. (b.1973)

On 26th May 1999, a young 25-year-old aviator took off with his MiG-27L armed with 80mm
rockets during the Kargil War for his assigned mission. Luck did not stand by him while flying and his engine flamed out. He was captured by Pakistani forces and eventually taken to Skardu. Ask him about his experience and he would reply that he cannot convey it in words. He further reveals that at one time, death seemed to be a better option than the suffering. He was interviewed by Pakistani Air Force pilot Air Commodore Kaiser Tufail who was a Group Captain at that time and with his through gentlemanliness, he interviewed the young Flight Lieutenant who was having a hard time. They had a casual conversation and rather than being a talk between a PoW and the official of the rival force, it was a conversation between two human beings.

He returned to India on 3rd June 1999 by the Wagah border but still had to suffer as he was grounded due to medical reasons and started flying as a transport pilot piloting IL-78s only in 2003. He had a stroke of better luck rather than his superior who met with a different faith.
Picture from India Today website.



Sqn Ldr Ajay Ahuja VrC(Posthumous) 1963-1999



Sqn Ldr Ahuja was the flight commander of the no.15 squadron based at Bhatinda under the command of the current chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa who was a Wing Commander that time. He received the news that Flt.Lt Nachiketa was missing and went with the aim of finding out more and probably rescuing him. His MiG 21 FL was hit by the US made Stinger Surface to Air Missile which was the cause of his crash. He gave a desperate radio call and eventually lost contact with the authorities. The post mortem declared that he was killed by Pakistani servicemen rather than being a flight crash casualty. His post mortem states:

  1. There is a penetrating gunshot wound; entry near right ear, exit near the external orifice of the left ear.
  2. Gunshot wound: entry 2 cm medial to right nipple, exit near left iliac crest damaging internal viscera like liver, intestine, and peritoneum.
  3. Compound comminuted fracture left knee.
  4. Suffered multiple punctured wounds over left and right thighs, rupture of the right lung, injury to neck vessels, small intestine and left liver.  
The fracture had been caused by the parachute landing.

This was said to be a cold-blooded murder and sparked a great deal of tension between the two nations. 

Conclusion

The matter seems very tense between the two neighbouring states and no one wishes that this matter escalates. Indians are keen to get our brave pilot who has been commended of having a presence of mind along with calmness. As we pray for our air warrior I would like to remind everyone the keep in mind consider the pain Wg Cdr Abhinandan's family is going through and to think and applaud all the servicemen who have faced this kind of situation in their military service.

Regards,

famebythisname

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