India, Jan. 25 -- The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has granted special family pension to the widow of an Indian Air Force Wing Commander who died while saving children from drowning in a lake, during a family picnic, setting aside a Court of Inquiry finding that the death was "not attributable to military service".

Allowing the petition filed by Anuradha Bhattacharya, wife of late Wing Commander Durlabh Bhattacharya, the AFT's Chandigarh bench held that the officer's death was attributable to military service. "The finding of the Court of Inquiry holding the death as 'not attributable to military service' is set aside," the bench comprising Justice Umesh Chandra Sharma and Air Marshal Manavendra Singh said in its order dated January 19. D...