Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who had been captured by Pakistan, will be awarded the Vir Chakra gallantry medal this Independence Day.

Wing Commander Varthaman, had been termed a national hero after he shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet on February 27 near the Line of Control. Later, he was captured by Pakistani forces and returned to India on March 01

The fight, during which Varthaman shot the Pakistan jet, took place a day after IAF jets bombed terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot.