New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said the balloon-shaped object that was shot down by a Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft came flying from the Pakistani side.
“Ministry of Defence has written a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with Pakistan. Though it had no payload, it could have been set to test our security and gauge our response time. In 15 minutes Sukhoi (from Jodhpur) shot down the balloon after the radar noticed it coming across border,” the Minister said.
IAF officials on Tuesday said the object was flying in from the western sector (implying Pakistani side) and was shot down.
“Between 1030 and 1100 hours today (Tuesday), an unidentified balloon shaped object was picked up by IAF radar. An IAF fighter was launched which intercepted the object and brought it down. Further investigation is underway,” an IAF spokesperson said.
No one was hurt nor was any damage caused to the property in the area, IAF spokesman said in Jaipur.
The incident happened in Barmer, nearly 500 km from Rajasthan capital Jaipur, where some villagers have reported an incident of certain metal pieces falling down from the sky.
Reports said that it was a private balloon and the possibility of it carrying any spying object is initially ruled out.
http://www.abplive.in/india-news/ba...possibly-to-test-our-security-parrikar-281736
Shiv AroorVerified account@ShivAroor
Top Govt official says the unidentified 'balloon' shot down by IAF was a likely Pak decoy to test Indian defences & response time.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...asthan-with-Pakistan/articleshow/50744970.cms