Budgam helicopter crash | Feel cheated, says family of sergeant on board Mi-17

[Areesh]

A day after the February 26 Balakot air strike, as Indian and Pakistani fighter jets were engaged in combat over the Naushera sector in Jammu and Kashmir, news filtered in of an Mi-17 helicopter crashing in Budgam. Six IAF personnel on board and a civilian were killed; among them was sergeant Vikrant Sherawat. With preliminary probe findings suggesting that the helicopter was shot down by India’s own ground-based air defence systems, Sherawat’s family said they feel cheated over being kept in the dark all these months — the IAF officers who brought his remains home had alluded to a “technical fault”.

‘Facts hidden from us’

At their house in Bhadani village here, Sherawat’s father Sri Krishan, 62, lies on a wooden bed, anguish writ large on the farmer’s face. “We had the right to know the circumstances in which he died. We don’t understand the politics. But it could be because of the elections that the facts were hidden from us. The way the Pulwama attack was politicised to seek electoral mileage, it seems the matter [friendly fire] was hushed up to avoid embarrassment to the government in election season,” says Mr. Krishna.

Sherawat’s widow Suman said that a week after the incident, she had stumbled upon an article in a Hindi daily suggesting that the chopper was possibly hit by friendly fire.

Kanta Devi, the late sergeant’s mother, said that a couple of his Air Force friends from neighbouring villages had also hinted at it, but advised her to keep silent.

Court of Inquiry
The Court of Inquiry probing the incident is expected to submit its report in the next couple of weeks but until a definitive official version is shared with them, all the family has is information through the media.

“News reports suggest the senior-most officer among those guilty is being transferred as punishment. I demand that all officers responsible be given strict punishment,” said Ms. Devi.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...le27241178.ece/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

 

[greenblooded]

A day after the February 26 Balakot air strike, as Indian and Pakistani fighter jets were engaged in combat over the Naushera sector in Jammu and Kashmir, news filtered in of an Mi-17 helicopter crashing in Budgam. Six IAF personnel on board and a civilian were killed; among them was sergeant Vikrant Sherawat. With preliminary probe findings suggesting that the helicopter was shot down by India’s own ground-based air defence systems, Sherawat’s family said they feel cheated over being kept in the dark all these months — the IAF officers who brought his remains home had alluded to a “technical fault”.

‘Facts hidden from us’

At their house in Bhadani village here, Sherawat’s father Sri Krishan, 62, lies on a wooden bed, anguish writ large on the farmer’s face. “We had the right to know the circumstances in which he died. We don’t understand the politics. But it could be because of the elections that the facts were hidden from us. The way the Pulwama attack was politicised to seek electoral mileage, it seems the matter [friendly fire] was hushed up to avoid embarrassment to the government in election season,” says Mr. Krishna.

Sherawat’s widow Suman said that a week after the incident, she had stumbled upon an article in a Hindi daily suggesting that the chopper was possibly hit by friendly fire.

Kanta Devi, the late sergeant’s mother, said that a couple of his Air Force friends from neighbouring villages had also hinted at it, but advised her to keep silent.

Court of Inquiry
The Court of Inquiry probing the incident is expected to submit its report in the next couple of weeks but until a definitive official version is shared with them, all the family has is information through the media.

“News reports suggest the senior-most officer among those guilty is being transferred as punishment. I demand that all officers responsible be given strict punishment,” said Ms. Devi.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...le27241178.ece/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

jab fazool me pange loge to yehi hota hai

 

[CHACHA"G"]

I feel sorry for them ….. What a tragedy … First they cursed Pakistan ,, Now what will they do ??

 

[Whirling_dervesh]

I think pak gormint also stayed quiet as they wanted modi to win instead of making big hoo haa and BJP lose

 

[PurAzamBaHadaf]

I think pak gormint also stayed quiet as they wanted modi to win instead of making big hoo haa and BJP lose

More to do with not escalating the situation

 

[American Pakistani]

Indian govt and military elite is using low level personal for their self egos and disposing them like a tissue paper. Unless these low level Indian personal won't understand this, they will be always be slave to their military elites and govt.

Do those military elites or govt give a fk abt them? No, look how modi is enjoying his election win, military elites are enjoying their parties and vacations whiles these low level indian personal are left on LoC and IOK to be disposed by Pakistan or Kashmir or China. Why did india not declare war to take revenge of these personals if they really care abt them?

The choice is for low level indian soldiers to make, either take revenge from these elites military or govt or just survive on sukhi roti and watery daal which will be fed as the only meal for the day.