New Delhi: For nearly a week, Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman has stolen the social media spotlight, with Twittersphere abuzz with messages of gratitude and playful memes in relation to the wing commander. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani army after his MiG-21 jet was shot down by a Pakistani fighter during a clash last week. However, he was released by Pakistan on Friday after spending over two days in their custody.
Now, he is the top trend on social media and the most talked about person on news. People from both India and Pakistan lauded the bravery and level-headedness shown by the pilot while he was captured.
The Nagpur Police too got in on the social media trend while trying to make a point about internet safety. They had used one of his lines from a video, released by Pakistan as proof of his capture. When he was asked details about his mission, Varthaman politely sipped his tea and said: "I am not supposed to tell you this."
In its recent post on Twitter, the Nagpur Police wrote, "When someone asks for your OTP: "I am not supposed to tell you this" #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan #NagpurPolice."
Cricketer Virender Sehwag also posted an image on social media of a sketch of the pilot with the same line written on top.
Varthaman was given a rousing welcome at the Palam airport, from where he was taken to a medical facility for examination. Although Varthaman was not physically tortured during his capture, he said went through mental harassment.