PILOT SAYS HE WAS MENTALLY TORTURED
Abhinandan briefs Air Chief Marshal about his detention
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was brought to Delhi after being released by Pakistan on Friday, told his top commanders at the Indian Air Force that he was subjected to lot of mental harassment in Pakistan though he was not physically tortured.
Early on Saturday morning, Wg Cdr Varthaman met his immediate family members as well as several top officials of the Indian Air Force.
Wg Cdr Varthaman, who is recovering at Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi, briefed Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa about his detention in Pakistan.
He underwent a series of medical tests on Saturday as part of a “cooling down” process. Meanwhile, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman also met him.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was brought to Delhi after being released by Pakistan on Friday, told his top commanders at the Indian Air Force that he was subjected to lot of mental harassment in Pakistan though he was not physically tortured.
He underwent a series of medical tests on Saturday as part of a “cooling down” process.
“Cooling down” usually means to prepare a soldier for reintegration into routine family and regimental life after he has underwent traumatic psychological stress in hostile environment or war. The tests are expected to continue till Sunday.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also met him at hospital and enquired about his health. “He officer was in high spirit,” said a defence ministry official. Pictures of the meeting released by the ministry, showed Wg Cdr Varthaman siting on a chair and looked relaxed. There does not seems to be any “worrying back injuries” after he ejected from MiG21 in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). His wife Sqn Ldr Tanvi Marwah (retd), sevenyear-old son and sister Aditi were also present during the meeting.
Once, the health check up phase is over, debriefing sessions will be arranged for him, the officials said. He had undergone a preliminary examination in Punjab upon his arrival in India.
During de-briefing, Wg Cdr Varthaman will give the sequence of the events. “He will give details on how he was hit, where he landed, how he got caught and what he told the Pakistanis. What documents they recovered from him and how he was treated,” said sources. He is likely to give briefing on what is the mood there and other things he sensed while in their custody.