Squadron leader Ravi Khanna's widow on recognition for his martyrdom

Martyr Squadron leader Ravi Khanna's widow Nirmal Khanna spoke to ANI about the Indian Air Force approving the name of her late husband in the National War Memorial's list of Air Force personnel who sacrificed their lives for the nation. She said that the IAF approving to add his name to the National War Memorial was all that her husband would have wanted. She expressed gratitude towards the IAF and all Indians. She also spoke about being denied a widow's pension for a long time.

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Martyr Squadron leader Ravi Khanna's widow on recognition

Nirmal Khanna spoke to ANI about her husband being honoured by the Forces and the nation. "What else can a soldier long for? When a soldier wears the uniform, he knows it's a coffin. I'm thankful to IAF and 130 crore Indians. I have been denied war widow's pension for long. Now, I feel accepted as the daughter of India. I had to fight for War Widows Pension for long. But as good citizens we should first know our duties and then take our rights," she said.

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About Late Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna

The Indian Air Force on Saturday gave a nod to include the martyred IAF Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna's name on the National War memorial. Ravi Khanna was gunned down in 1990 by terrorist-turned-separatist Yasin Malik. According to top IAF sources, the case for the inclusion of Ravi Khanna's name on the National War Memorial has been cleared.  "The Air Headquarters cleared the case for the inclusion of late Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna's name in the National War Memorial's list of Air Force personnel who have laid down their lives for the country," said top IAF sources.

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Yasin Malik's role in Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna's death

Yasin Malik, the head of the banned faction Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is the prime accused in the killing of four IAF personnel, including Squadron leader Ravi Khanna. On January 25, 1990, the IAF personnel were killed by the members of JKLF. Following that, Yasin Malik was charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) before the TADA court in Jammu on August 31, 1990, in connection with the case. Malik is currently lodged in Tihar Jail over a terror funding case lodged against him by the National Investigative Agency (NIA).

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