'Pak missile misfire taken very seriously, review of lapses on’: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday addressed the Rajya Sabha over the accidental firing of a missile into Pakistan earlier this month. He said a high-level probe has been ordered and "if any lapses are found, action will be taken accordingly". "I'd like to tell this House about an incident that occurred on 9th March 2022. It's related to an accidental missile release during the inspection. During routine maintenance and inspection of the missile unit, around 7 pm, one missile got accidentally released," he said.

"I want to tell the House that the government has taken the incident very seriously. We are reviewing the SOPs. We give the top priority to safety and security. And a high-level courty inquiry has been ordered. If we find any lapses, action will be taken. Our missile system is safe and reliable. We take a timely review. Our armed forces are well-trained, and disciplined, and hold the experience of maintaining such a system," the defence minister further said.

The remarks were made on Day 2 of the second phase of the budget session, which resumed after a month-long break.

India on Friday said the missile was fired accidentally because of a “technical malfunction”. It added it has taken a strong view of the incident and ordered a high-level court of inquiry. Pakistan on Thursday had registered a protest over the “unprovoked violation of its airspace by a supersonic flying object of Indian origin”.

“On 9 March 2022, in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile. It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident,” a statement by the defency ministry read.