With the MEA acknowledging that an Indian Air Force wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman went missing on Wednesday and is in Pakistan custody, social media in India has exploded with #BringBackAbhinandan hashtag.
One of the top trending hashtags on Twitter at the time of writing, #BringBackHashtag has as a social media campaign to call for the speedy return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was captured by the Pakistani military on Wednesday after they shot down two IAF aircraft in Pakistan airspace.
As images and videos of the captured wing commander released by Pakistan went viral, Twitterati banded together to demand the return of the soldier.
#BringBackAbhinandan RT everyone ???
— Gurpreet Garry Walia (@_garrywalia) February 27, 2019
India needs just ONE campaign #BringBackAbhinandan
Everything else can wait! Be sensible to #SayNoToWar— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) February 27, 2019
Braveheart IAF Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Vardhaman should be returned to India without any harm as per Geneva convention. #BringBackAbhinandan
— IAS Association (@IASassociation) February 27, 2019
Bloodied but unbowed !!! #WingCommanderAbhinandan We are proud of you sir ??
The whole nation stands by you and your family.
Praying for your safe return ?#Abinandhan #BringBackAbhinandan #GenevaConvention #NationFirst @IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/e8uEqJj6YL— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) February 27, 2019
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman displays amazing composure in such trying times. It is imperative for PM Modi to speak and act to ensure safe return of India’s braveheart. Real leaders lead from the front. #BringBackAbhinandan
— Ruchira Chaturvedi (@RuchiraC) February 27, 2019
We all must make those hyperbole journalists and politicians responsible who were yesterday chest-thumping and were celebrating calls for war! They have just empty words to offer today for our pilot #Abhinandan.#BringBackAbhinandan#SayNoToWar
— Kawalpreet Kaur (@kawalpreetdu) February 27, 2019
Who is Abhinandan Varthaman?
Abhinandan Varthaman is an Indian Air Force fighter pilot who has gone missing in action. He is a MiG 21 Bison Wing Commander.
According to reports, the detained Indian pilot is said to be the son of a retired Air Marshall and was flying an MiG 21 Bison jet on Wednesday that was shot down by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) with the pilot taken into custody.
Pakistan has claimed that the the missing Varthaman is in their custody and is being treated well.
Pakistan has put out a video of the captured IAF pilot, claiming that two IAF pilots have been captured by them. Pakistan’s Major General Asif Ghafoor, the director general (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “Two Indian pilots were taken into custody and they are being treated well: one is injured and is being provided proper medical care.” India has however not said anything about a second pilot.