Released by Pak, IAF hero Abhinandan Varthaman returns home

Agencies
March 1, 2019

Chandigarh, Mar 1: Captured IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman walked to freedom as he crossed into the Indian territory through the Wagah-Attari border in Punjab late on Friday evening after he was released by Pakistan. 

Dressed in a blue-grey suit, he was embraced by a senior BSF official at the border before crossing into the Indian side. In Pakistan army’s custody since Wednesday morning, the pilot’s hand over finally took place at around 9.20 pm after several postponements. Pakistan brought Abhinandan by road from Islamabad to Lahore and from there to the Wagah border. 

Abhinandan was taken for a medical examination soon after he was handed over by the Pakistani authorities. A heavily guarded convoy then escorted the officer from the border post to the Amritsar airport, from where he flew to New Delhi’s Palam airport.  

For hundreds of people, who had gathered to see the brave officer walk to freedom, celebrations started since morning.

The road leading to the border was a sea of flowing tricolour and chants of ‘Bharat mata Ki Jai,’ Vande Mataram rang out ceaselessly. Many patriots continued to stay put on roads in spite of the delay just to have a glimpse of the brave officer.

Abhinandan’s welcome was marked by the high decibel sound of celebratory ‘dhol’ and victory chants by people. Members of the civil society made banners expressing gratitude and saluting the pilot for his indomitable courage.

The famous retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagha border in Punjab was cancelled due to Abhinandan’s release, much to the disappointment of visitors. A large number of people, who had gathered at the border for the retreat ceremony, were asked to leave following the cancellation.

Earlier on Friday, the High Commission of India in Islamabad issued a travel document to facilitate Abhinandan Varthaman’s repatriation from Pakistan.

Group Captain Joy Thomas Kurien, Air Advisor of High Commission of India in Pakistan, was with Wing Commander Varthaman when he reached Pakistan-India border at Wagah-Attari.

Fareha Bugti, Director (India) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, was also with the IAF pilot when he was handed over to the officers of Border Security Force personnel of India after repeated postponements due to procedural delays. He underwent a health check up by the representatives of International Committee of Red Cross before his repatriation.

“The captured Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been returned to India today. He was arrested when his military jet MIG-21 crashed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir after being shot down by Pakistan Air Force for violating Pakistani airspace on February 27, 2019 (Wednesday),” Mohammad Faisal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Government, said in a statement.

“While in captivity, he was treated with dignity and in line with international law,” stated Faisal.

Comments

indian
 - 
Saturday, 2 Mar 2019

does indian have this same courage to treat any paki army like this...we all know last 5 year BJP is just blamming paki for there own benefit. real telling all bad story like behading solider, in reallity this never happen.

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News Network
June 28,2020

Bengaluru,  Jun 28: Sixteen deaths due to COVID-19 and 1,267 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Karnataka, according to information provided by the State Health Department.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka has reached 13,190, including 783 cases from Bengaluru Urban. While 7,507 patients have been discharged after treatment, 207 deaths have been reported, said the health department.

With 19,906 new cases, the highest single-day spike so far, India's COVID-19 count touched 5,28,859 including 2,03,051 active cases, 3,09,713 cured/discharged/migrated, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 410 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours and the cumulative toll reached 16,095 deaths. 

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News Network
June 5,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 5: With the easing of COVID-19 lockdown norms under unlock 1.0, the Karnataka government on Thursday permitted state transport buses to operate even during the night curfew hours 9 pm to5 am.

Autos, taxis and cabs have also been given permission to operate during these hours for picking commuting passengers from pickup points or bus stands.

Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar in an order said, state transport corporations (BMTC, KSRTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC) buses have been allowed to operate during night curfew hours from 9 pm to 5 am.

On the basis of their bus tickets, passengers would be allowed to commute to bus stand or from there to home, in accordance with the COVID-19 control measures, SOPs and other guidelines, it said.

Further, during the curfew hours autos, taxis and cabs have been given permission to pick commuters from pickup points or bus stands, it added.

Earlier, the government had revised the night curfew time from the previous 7 pm-7 am to 9 pm-5 am, and said the movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 9 pm and 5 am throughout the state, except for essential activities.

The government has also said that jungle lodges and resorts, also private organisations providing similar facilities, along with activities they provide like safari, trekking among others would be permitted from June 8, in compliance with the guidelines and SOP issued and following the social distancing norms.  

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News Network
April 2,2020

Bidar, Apr 2: Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Thursday confirmed that 11 people out of 27 in Bidar, who had participated in Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markat have been tested positive for COVID-19.

Speaking to news agency, Karnataka Health Minister said, "We are monitoring 362 people who had attended Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi. Out of 27 people from Bidar who had attended, 11 have tested positive for COVID-19, while results of 16 others are awaited. Total positive cases in the state are 121."
Meanwhile, Tablighi Jamaat's Maulana Saad has stated that he will fully support the government in its fight against the coronavirus.

This comes soon after an FIR was registered against him in connection with the religious gathering organised in Markaz Nizamuddin area of the national capital.

A huge religious gathering was held at the Markaz building in Nizamuddin between March 13-15, the event came into the spotlight after multiple coronavirus cases were confirmed amongst those who attended the event held in mid-March.

An FIR has been registered against Tablighi Jamaat head Maulana Saad and others under the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 in Delhi.
A total of 2,361 people were brought out from the Markaz in a joint operation by authorities which lasted for over 36 hours, following which the South Delhi Municipal Corporation had carried out a sanitisation of the premises and nearby area.

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