Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman Was Subjected to Mental Harassment in Pakistan: Report
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, however, said that he was not physically tortured by Pakistani forces.
New Delhi, March 2: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was released from Pakistan's custody on Friday, was subjected to mental harassment during captivity, news agency ANI report quoting sources. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, however, said that he was not physically tortured by Pakistani forces. He was roughed up by locals before Pakistani personnel took him into custody on Wednesday.
"After returning from Pakistan, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has informed that though he was not physically tortured by the Pakistanis; he went through a lot of mental harassment," sources told ANI. Abhinandan is undergoing a thorough medical check-up at the hospital as his body had undergone stress due to ejection from his MiG-21 jet after it was hit and crashed in a village in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan Lie Busted Again! Lockheed Martin Not Suing India For Claiming MiG-21 Shot Down F-16 Fighter Jet.
Earlier today, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Abhinandan at an armed forces medical facility in New Delhi and enquired about his health. She was accompanied by senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officials. Abhinandan looked fine and sat straight in a chair during his interaction with the Defence Minister.
Abhinandan's MiG-21 during an Indian Air Force operation to thwart Pakistani planes intruding into Indian airspace. He downed an F-16 fighter jet of Pakistan Air Force by firing an R-73 air-to-air missile before his fighter jet was hit. After the crash, he was chased by a mob and later rescued by the Pakistan Army. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced on Thursday that Abhinandan would be released on Friday without any preconditions as a "gesture of peace".
The Indian Air Force's pilot was in Pakistani captivity for over 60 hours before his ordeal came to an end after several hours of uncertainty on Friday.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 02, 2019 06:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).