Widow Of IAF Pilot Thanks IAF, PM Modi And Defence Minister For Recognition After Three Decades

Nirmal Khanna, the wife of late Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Ravi Khanna who was allegedly murdered in 1990 by the separatist leader Yasin Malik has hailed the decision of the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force (IAF) to include her husband's name among the decorated martyrs at the prestigious National War Memorial, reports ANI.

Thanking the IAF, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Nirmal Khanna said, "What else can a soldier long for? When a soldier wears a uniform, he knows it is a coffin. I am thankful to the IAF and 130 crore Indians. Now, I feel accepted as a daughter of India. "

Sqn Ldr Khanna was one of four IAF personnel to have been murdered by Malik on 25 January 1990 in the Kashmir Valley. Malik is presently being tried in a number of cases involving terror funding and also the murder of the IAF personnel.

The decision to engrave Sqn Ldr Khanna's name at the National War Memorial was taken by the IAF in the last week of September, under the former air chief marshal BS Dhanoa.