Abhinandan says went through mental harassment in Pakistan

After returning from Pakistan, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman informed that though he was not physically tortured by the Pakistanis; he went through a lot of mental harassment, reports ANI quoting sources.

The Indian Air Force pilot was captured by the Pakistani military on Wednesday, after his fighter -- a MiG-21 -- was shot down during a dogfight with jets from the neighbouring country at a time of mounting tensions between the two countries.

Pakistani officials held that although Wing Commander Varthaman was initially assaulted by local residents upon parashooting into their territory, he was treated well by them.

The pilot was handed over to Indian authorities around 9.20 pm yesterday, a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that they would return him in a "gesture of peace".