अपना ही हेलिकॉप्टर मार गिराया, ग्रुप कैप्टन को बर्खास्त करें: जनरल कोर्ट मार्शल का आदेश, बालाकोट एयरस्ट्राइक के दौरान हुई थी घटना

The chopper was crashed in IAF’s missile attack

The General Court Martial of the Indian Air Force has ordered the dismissal of Group Captain Suman Roy Chowdhury of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He has been found guilty of targetting and shooting down his own Mi-17 V5 helicopter in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Six Air Force personnel and a civilian were killed in the attack which took place around 10 am on 27 February 2019. At that time Group Captain Chaudhary was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Srinagar Air Force Station. IAF’s own surface-to-air missile targeted the chopper when it was on its way back to Srinagar. On this day aerial combat was going on between Indian and Pakistani Air Force.

The matter was first investigated by the Court of Inquiry. Only after this the Air Force General Court Martial was constituted.

Case going on in High Court
This case is also going on in the Punjab and Haryana courts. Only after the decision of the court, the IAF can implement the order of the General Court Martial. IAF will implement this order after the order of the Air Force Chief.
The incident took place after the February 14, 2019 Pulwama terror attack by the Indian Air Force in Balakot, Pakistan. 40 CRPF soldiers were martyred in Balakot.

Wing Commander Abhinandan had shot down Pak’s fighter jet

Around the same time on the same day, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman (now Group Captain) was engaged in a dogfight with Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft over Nowshera along the Line of Control. During the war, he shot down a PAF F-16 jet. His MiG-21 Bison aircraft was also shot down but he ejected and landed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Later Pakistan handed him over to India.
IAF Head Quarters orders were not obeyed
Group Captain Chaudhary has been held guilty of disobeying the general order of IAF Head Quarters dated July 14, 2017. The order required all aircraft operating north to operate with identification friend or foe (IFF). The country has suffered a loss of Rs 133.31 crore in the incident. Those killed include pilots Squadron Leader S Vashishtha and Squadron Leader Ninand M, Sergeant VK Pandey, Sergeant Vikrant Sehrawat, Corporal Pankaj Kumar, Corporal D Pandey and civilian Kifayat Hussain Gani, residents of Budgam district.