Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on March 15 had stated in Parliament that a high-level probe has been ordered into the incident involving the accidental launch of a missile that landed in Pakistan.
An Air Vice Marshal from the Indian Air Force (IAF) headquarters is conducting an extensive investigation into the accidental firing of the tactical BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which landed in Pakistan earlier this month.
According to ANI, the detailed investigation by the Air Force officer (equivalent to a Major General in the Army) is still ongoing.
According to sources, a Group Captain-rank officer is being held responsible.
This development comes as the officer in question was in charge of the missile system’s mobile command post when the accidental firing occurred during a Command Air Staff Inspection (CASI) at its home base.
“On March 9, a missile was unintentionally launched. During a routine inspection, the incident occurred. We later learned that it had landed in Pakistan “He informed the Rajya Sabha.
The defence minister stated that the Indian missile system is extremely trustworthy and secure, and that the Indian armed forces are experienced in dealing with such systems. Pakistan has been attempting to raise the issue of accidental missile firing on the international stage, despite the fact that the BrahMos missile is only a tactical system and was unarmed at the time of the incident.
The missile also did not cause significant property damage or loss of life in Pakistan’s Mian Channu town. India has also expressed regret over the incident.
