NEW DELHI – Defending the termination of three IAF (Indian Air Force)officers, including a Wing Commander, for gross negligence, the Indiangovernment informed the Delhi High Court that unintentional firing of aBrahMos combat missile into Pakistan in March last year had a negativeimpact on the nation’s relations with the neighbouring country and caused aloss of INR240 million to the nation’s exchequer.
According to Indian media reports, the Indian government has submitted aresponse to the dismissal petition filed by Wing Commander Abhinav Sharmain the Delhi High Court, justifying the dismissal of three Indian Air Force(IAF) officers, including the wing commander.
The government said that due to this mistake the security of the state hadbeen adversely affected on a wider scale. Keeping in view the sensitivenature of the matter, a thoughtful decision has been taken to terminate theservice of the petitioner, the government said.
The government also said that such a decision had been taken in the IndianAir Force after 23 years as facts and circumstances of the case demandedsuch a drastic action.
At least three officers of the Indian Air Force were dismissed over lastyear’s misadventure when Indian supersonic missile landed in Pakistan’sterritory.
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Indian defence officials took action nearly six months after the incidentas Pakistan, along with other neighbours raised questions about New Delhi’scredibility and safety of the military command and control, as well as itsarsenal.
In a statement, the Indian Air Force said the three officers had been heldresponsible for the incident and their services had been terminated by thecentral government with immediate effect.
