Indian Air Force’s Hero Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman

Indian Air Force’s Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has reportedly said that he went through a lot of mental harassment in Pakistan’s custody, as per news agency ANI

New Delhi: Indian Air Force’s Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who returned to India on Friday after spending nearly 60 hours in captivity in Pakistan, has reportedly informed that he went through a lot of mental harassment in Pakistan’s custody. However, he said that he was not physically tortured by the Pakistanis, news agency ANI reported.

Pakistan had claimed that Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan authorities after his MiG 21 jet was shot down during aerial combat along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, was initially assaulted by locals upon his landing.on their territory. However, it has claimed that the IAF pilot was treated as per norms by the Geneva Convention while he was in custody. Before he was shot down, Varthaman had hit an F-16 jet of Pakistan Air Force.

Initial photographs of the IAF pilot showed him blindfolded and having suffered injuries on his face. However, Pakistan later released a video in which he was seen sipping tea and stating that he was being treated well.

A day after his return from Pakistan, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met the Wing Commander at a hospital in Delhi where he was taken for medical-check following his arrival in India via Wagah Border on Friday evening. During the meeting, Varthaman is said to have explained his detention in Pakistan. The Defence Minister told Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman that India was proud of his bravery and courage. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman after he returns from Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, the IAF pilot also met IAF Chief BS Dhanoa as well as several other officials of the Air Force, news agency PTI had reported. Varthaman had also met his parents earlier this morning, as per PTI.

Sources said that Varthaman’s medical check-up at the hospital are part of a “cooling process” and would continue till Saturday. His debriefing sessions would be scheduled once his medical check-up is completed.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistani authorities after his MiG 21 Bison jet was shot down while he was engaged in an aerial combat with Pakistan Air Force (PAF) along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on February 27. PAF had attempted to breach the Indian airspace on Wednesday but were thwarted by the Indian Air Force which shot down Pakistan’s F16 jets. However, one MiG 21 of the IAF was also lot in the engagement, and the Pakistani authorities took its pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, in its custody.

After India demanded the pilot’s “immediate and safe release”, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that Varthaman would be returned to India as a “peace gesture.” His return was celebrated across the country, with celebrities, politicians and the rest of the nation lauding the IAF pilot for displaying bravery and courage in the face of adversity.