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
January 19,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 19: The Karnataka government has given its nod to teach 'Vivekadeepini' slokhas, authored by Adi Shankaracharya, in schools across the state, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Saturday.

At an event called 'Vivekadeepini Mahasamarpane,' organised by Vedanta Bharati, Yediyurappa said, "It has been noticed that Vivekadeepini, which evolves the mind and illumines a person, has a great effect on students.

Parents and teachers have found a positive change among children who were inspired by Vivekadeepini." "Hence, the government has given its nod to allow teaching Vivekadeepini in the schools in Karnataka," he added.

According to the organisers of the event, around two lakh children from 50 schools participated in the event where they were taught to chant Vivekadeepini, comprising verses for the seekers in the spiritual journey.

Yediyurappa reminded the audience that the Indian culture and civilisation is the oldest and the best, which they should feel proud of. Likening Amit Shah to the first union home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he said, "After Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel if we have seen a union home minister, it is Amit Shah, who has successfully resolved many burning issues of the countries within a few months.

"Shah succeeded in finding a permanent solution to Kashmir issue," Yediyurappa said.

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News Network
February 7,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 7: A preliminary charge-sheet has been filed in three cases in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) betting and match-fixing case.

In Cubbon Park case, chargesheet against six accused which includes two team owners-- Ali and Arvind Reddy, one KSCA management committee member Shinde, two players Gautum and Kazi and one bookie Maavi are charge-sheeted.

Apart from this, charge-sheet filed in Bharatinagar PS case against six accused while in JP Nagar case four accused-- Bafna, Sayyam, Jatin and Harish-- have been charge-sheeted.

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News Network
February 25,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 25: A day after Karnataka minister BC Patil felt the need for a law to shoot people who raise pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans, another BJP MLA on Monday said such people should be shot at sight or exiled to the neighbouring country.

Appachu Ranjan, MLA from Madikeri, said a woman named Amulya had raised Pakistan Zindabad slogan at Bengaluru during a CAA-related meeting.

"People saying Pakistan Zindabad, despite living in our country- eating food and drinking water available here- they should be shot at sight. Or else such people should be exiled to Pakistan, and no one should should show softness towards them and fight cases in their favour," he said at Somwarpet in Kodagu.

Amulya Leona, a woman who raised pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally in Bengaluru on Thursday, has been booked for sedition and remanded to judicial custody.

She had raised "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans thrice after the organisers, under the banner of "Save the Constitution", invited her to address the gathering in the presence of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

Agriculture minister Patil on Sunday had expressed the need for a legislation to shoot such people, and said he would make a request to the prime minister in this regard. "A law should be brought in the country that who ever raises slogans against India and in favour of Pakistan, they should be shot at sight. Bringing such a law is important," Patil had said.

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