Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan last month and returned to India two days later, has gone back to his squadron in Srinagar though he is on a four-week sick leave, official sources said Tuesday.
They said Varthaman preferred to stay with his squadron inSrinagar than going to his family home in Chennai while on leave.
The IAF pilot went on leave around 12 days ago aftersecurity agencies completed a nearly two-week debriefing after his return fromPakistan.
“Varthaman could have gone to his family home in Chennai tospend time with his parents. But he chose to go to Srinagar where his squadronis based,” the sources said.
After his four-week sick leave period, a medical board willreview his fitness to help the IAF top brass decide whether he can return tofighter cockpit as desired by him.
He was captured by the Pakistani army on February 27 afterhis MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during anaerial combat.
Varthaman was released on the night of March 1 by Pakistan.