Pakistan had said that the incident was an unprovoked violation of its airspace by the supersonic ‘projectile’ of Indian origin.
New Delhi: Months after accidental firing of BrahMos missile which had landed in Pakistan, three Air Force Officials have been sacked for negligence. The incident had taken place on March 9 when the incident of BrahMos missile misfire over Pakistan had taken place. After the incident, the Defence Ministry had termed it as ‘deeply regrettable’. Pakistan ‘however’ had raised a strong protest against the misfire by summoning India’s Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad.
According to a statement, the three officers were terminated after it was found in a court enquiry that a deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by them led to the accidental firing of the missile.
“A BrahMos missile was accidentally fired on March 9. A Court of Inquiry (Col), set up to establish the facts of the case, including fixing responsibility for the incident, found that deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by three officers led to the accidental firing of the missile,” the statement said.
“These three officers have primarily been held responsible for the incident. Their services have been terminated by the central government with immediate effect. Termination orders have been served upon the officers on August 23,” it said.
Meanwhile, India Air Force has not mentioned the name and rank of the officials whose services have been terminated.
Since the incident had taken place on March 9 and the neighbouring country had lodged its protest the very next day. Pakistan had said that the incident was an unprovoked violation of its airspace by the supersonic “projectile” of Indian origin. A day later, the Defence Ministry had said that the missile was fired accidentally and it landed in Pakistan. It was said that the incident happened due to the technical malfunction in the course of the routine maintenance of the missile.
