Fact Check Alert: No, Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar Was Not Sacked
Various media outlets claimed that Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar was sacked after the Indian Air force lost a fighter aircraft to Pakistan in the recent engagement with Pakistan Air Force.
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A news went viral on social media claiming that Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar had been sacked by the Indian Government after Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two planes of India Air Force (IAF).
#IAF Air Marshal C Harikumar (WAC) sacked from his post owing to an epic
— Rania Al Masri (@FighterEmpress) March 2, 2019
failure in the combat against #PAF What a roaring resounding victory for #Pakistan - but time now to single-handedly keep focus on exposing Indian war crimes in #Kashmir
Wikipedia...
— Kashif Syed (@kashif55524751) March 1, 2019
Indian air Force has sacked its western command Air Marshal Chandrasekharan Harikumar on 28th feb. 2019 after PAF adventure on 27th feb. 2019 pic.twitter.com/WpV0veCCzX
India’s SURPRISE
— Dr. Aliya Kareem (@DrAliya7) March 1, 2019
The Indian government sacked a senior air force officer Air Marshal Harikumar after Pakistan’s successful strikes and capturing of a pilot. #PakistanLeadsWithPeace while India Sacking it’s own officers. pic.twitter.com/c5WUuOSlcN
Indian air Force has Sacked Its Western command Air Marshal chandrasekharan harikumar https://t.co/JxrKYHqFHx
— Dr Faisal Tareen (@DrFaisalTareen) March 1, 2019
What is the truth?
Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar PVSM AVSM VM VSM ADC, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command Indian Air Force had not been sacked. He RETIRED on 28 February 2019 after an illustrious career spanning over 39 yrs.
The official announcement of Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar's retirement had been posted by the verified Twitter and Facebook accounts of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar, AOC-in-C, Western Air Command IAF retired on 28 Feb 2019 after an illustrious career spanning over 39 yrs. The Air Marshal was commissioned in the Flying Branch of Indian Air Force in the year 1979.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 1, 2019
Details on https://t.co/okJbv3h7IU pic.twitter.com/seHpDaLOZi
PIB also released a press release on the retirement of the Air Marshal. Here's the complete report:
Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar, took over as the Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C) of Western Air Command (WAC) wef 01 Mar 19. Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar handed over the command of WAC on his superannuation after 39 yrs of glorious service.
Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar, took over as the Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C) of Western Air Command (WAC) wef 01 Mar 19. Air Marshal C Hari Kumar handed over the command of WAC on his superannuation after 39 yrs of glorious service. pic.twitter.com/ygmd4MFwZm
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 1, 2019