The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday successfully test-fired the ‘Pralay’ surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) from Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

The test was conducted at 9:35 AM and achieved all its mission objectives, validating key performance parameters and reinforcing India’s growing expertise in indigenous missile systems. The development aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative aimed at reducing dependence on foreign defence imports.

‘Pralay’ is a canisterised, road-mobile ballistic missile designed for precision strikes on high-value military targets such as enemy air bases, logistics hubs, and troop concentrations. With a strike range of 150 to 500 kilometers and the ability to carry payloads of up to 1,000 kg, it provides the Indian armed forces with strategic depth and quick-launch capabilities.

What sets ‘Pralay’ apart is its quasi-ballistic flight profile. Though it follows a ballistic trajectory, the missile’s warhead has the ability to maneuver mid-course and during terminal stages, making it harder to intercept. It features advanced guidance systems, including inertial navigation and a radio frequency seeker for enhanced accuracy in terminal guidance.

The missile’s quick reaction time, less than 10 minutes from transport to launch, ensures operational flexibility and survivability in contested environments. While comparable in size and weight to the Prithvi series, ‘Pralay’ delivers far greater range and lethality without breaching the nuclear threshold.

According to defence sources, the missile is tailored for deployment along both the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China, offering a robust and swift conventional strike option in response to provocation or aggression.

This successful test further reinforces India’s tactical missile capabilities and reflects DRDO’s continued progress in developing indigenous, next-generation weapon systems.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed Parliament on Monday that India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) directly contacted his Pakistani counterpart shortly after the execution of Operation Sindoor, a targeted counter-terror strike conducted in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Speaking during a special debate in the Lok Sabha, Singh revealed that the Indian DGMO called Pakistan’s DGMO via a hotline at around 1:35 am on May 7, just minutes after India launched precision missile strikes on nine terror hubs located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Punjab province.

“Through the hotline, he explained the rationale and methodology behind the operation. He also made it clear that the strikes were not meant to escalate tensions further and that we had no intention of prolonging the conflict,” Singh said.

However, the Defence Minister said that Pakistan failed to comprehend India’s limited intent and responded with ceasefire violations in the following days, targeting both civilian and military areas along the Line of Control. Despite provocations, Singh said, India exercised restraint and focused solely on eliminating terror infrastructure.

“Our armed forces were instructed to avoid any damage to civilian areas. This was an act of self-defence. We struck only at the sources of terror. I am proud to say that the armed forces carried out the mission successfully and with precision,” he added.

Rajnath Singh likened the operation to Lord Hanuman’s symbolic act of burning down Lanka in the Ramayana, highlighting its moral and strategic justification. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had similarly invoked the epic in a social media post ahead of the debate.

Operation Sindoor was launched in the early hours of May 7, between 1:05 and 1:30 am, and resulted in missile hits on nine identified terror targets. The Press Information Bureau had issued a statement at 1:44 am confirming the operation and clarifying that no Pakistani military installations were targeted.

Singh also reassured the House that no major Indian military assets were lost during the subsequent retaliatory firing and drone strikes from Pakistan.

“This operation was our response to the barbaric killing of 26 civilians by three terrorists in Pahalgam. We acted in self-defence, with precision, and with humanity,” Singh concluded.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing the Lok Sabha on Monday, firmly rejected claims that India halted Operation Sindoor under external pressure. He declared that the military operation was concluded only after achieving its political and strategic objectives in full.

“India stopped the operation because all the political and military objectives were achieved beforehand. Therefore, to say that the operation was halted due to any pressure is completely wrong,” Singh said, opening the official debate on the operation that had gripped the nation earlier this year.

The Minister described Operation Sindoor as a precision-led response aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure across the border, not a campaign for territorial gains. “Crossing the border or capturing territory there was not the objective of Operation Sindoor. The aim of launching the operation was to eliminate those terror nurseries that Pakistan had nurtured for many years,” he added.

Rajnath Singh revealed that on May 10, the Indian Air Force conducted successful strikes on multiple Pakistani airfields. Following these strikes, Pakistan acknowledged defeat and offered to cease hostilities. “This offer was accepted with the caveat that this operation has only been paused. If any misadventure occurs from Pakistan’s side in the future, this operation will be resumed,” he warned.

Reiterating the effectiveness of India’s defence systems, Singh said, “Our Air Defence system, Counter-Drone system, and electronic equipment completely foiled Pakistan’s attacks. Pakistan could not hit any of our targets, and none of our important assets were damaged.”

Responding to criticism from the Opposition, Singh hit out at their line of questioning. “Few members of the Opposition have been asking how many of our aircraft were shot down? I feel their question does not adequately represent our national sentiments. They have not asked how many enemy aircraft our Armed Forces shot down,” he remarked.

He further urged the House to focus on outcomes that mattered to the people. “If you must ask a question, ask this: Were any of our brave soldiers harmed in this operation? The answer is, no. None of our soldiers were harmed. Did we destroy terrorist bases? Yes, we did,” he stated emphatically.

Singh concluded by reaffirming India’s right to self-defence and its readiness to respond again if provoked. Operation Sindoor, he said, demonstrated India’s resolve and military precision without escalating into a full-blown conflict.

In a high-level security review, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, visited the Chinar Corps in North Kashmir on Monday to assess the progress of Operation Shiva, a large-scale security operation aimed at safeguarding the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.

The annual pilgrimage, which began on July 3 and will conclude on August 9, sees thousands of devotees traverse treacherous mountainous terrain to reach the sacred Amarnath cave. The security of the yatra is overseen by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board under the guidance of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

During his visit, Lt Gen Sharma evaluated the operational readiness of over 8,500 troops deployed along the twin routes from Pahalgam and Baltal. He lauded the troops’ resilience and professionalism in managing security in difficult terrain, while emphasizing the need for round-the-clock vigilance in light of recent intelligence inputs warning of potential infiltration attempts and attacks by Pakistan-backed terrorist groups.

Operation Shiva is a multi-agency effort involving the Indian Army, Central Armed Police Forces, civil administration, and disaster response teams. The security grid includes enhanced surveillance using UAVs, counter-terror patrols, and snipers positioned at key vantage points. Engineering units are actively repairing and widening the tracks, constructing temporary bridges, and mitigating landslide-prone areas to ensure a smooth passage for pilgrims.

To support medical emergencies, over 150 medical personnel have been deployed across the route. Facilities include two advanced dressing stations, nine medical aid posts, a 100-bed field hospital, and 26 oxygen booths with a cumulative capacity of two lakh liters of oxygen to help pilgrims cope with high-altitude conditions.

Lt Gen Sharma, who assumed command of the Northern Command in April 2025, brings over 37 years of experience to the role. Commissioned into the Madras Regiment in 1987, he has held key appointments such as Director General Military Operations and Corps Commander of II Corps, and served in United Nations missions in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI).

His visit comes amid persistent security challenges in the Valley, where militancy and unrest have previously disrupted the pilgrimage. The 2016 agitation following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and targeted attacks on pilgrims in past years underscore the region’s volatile environment. However, studies such as the report by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) have highlighted the effectiveness of joint operations like ‘Operation All Out’, which led to a 70% drop in militancy-related incidents between 2017 and 2020.

Operation Shiva is a continuation of these efforts, ensuring the safety and sanctity of the Amarnath Yatra, while reinforcing public confidence and regional stability.

In a major breakthrough, top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and mastermind of the Pahalgam attack, Suleiman Shah alias Musa Fauji, was among the three Pakistani terrorists killed in Monday’s encounter under Operation Mahadev in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar region, sources confirmed.

Also Read: Satellite Phone Blunder Led to ‘Operation Mahadev’ in Dachigam

The encounter took place near the Dachigam area, close to the Mahadev ridge, where the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police launched a joint operation after tracking suspicious movements for nearly two weeks. The operation began around 11:30 AM and involved elite units from 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 PARA.

According to intelligence sources, Shah was not only the chief conspirator of the April 22 carnage in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead but was also linked to the brutal killing of seven workers involved in the construction of the Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonmarg highway in 2024.

The terrorists were caught off guard in a temporary hideout, where they were reportedly resting. This element of surprise allowed the Army to neutralise the group effectively. A cache of weapons was recovered from the site, including 17 grenades, an M4 carbine, and two AK-47 rifles.

Security forces had been closely tracking a joint Lashkar-Jaish module in the dense jungles of Dachigam after intercepting suspicious satellite communication earlier this month. The surveillance was aided by inputs from local nomadic communities. Renewed communication signals just two days ago helped pinpoint the terrorists’ location, culminating in Monday’s swift encounter.

The name ‘Operation Mahadev’ was reportedly chosen due to the location of the operation between the Mahadev and Zabarwan ridges.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the Pahalgam attack, had earlier arrested two locals for allegedly sheltering the attackers. While official confirmation of Suleiman Shah’s role in the Pahalgam massacre is awaited following identification of the bodies, intelligence sources maintain he was the key figure behind the planning and execution.

The April 22 attack in Baisaran Valley, popularly known as “mini Switzerland”, was one of the deadliest in recent memory. Carried out while tourists were enjoying a picnic, the terrorists selectively targeted men, specifically those identified as non-Muslims. The attack was later claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The development comes on the day when the Parliament is set to debate the Pahalgam massacre and India’s military response through Operation Sindoor. Opposition parties have repeatedly criticised the government over delays in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The elimination of Suleiman Shah is being seen as a significant counterterrorism success for Indian security forces.

In a significant step towards modernizing border surveillance, the Border Security Force (BSF) has started equipping its personnel along the Indo-Bangladesh border with body-worn cameras (BWCs). These devices are expected to strengthen transparency in border operations, deter illegal activities, and serve as electronic evidence in case of disputes or allegations of excessive force.

According to officials, 2,500 body-worn cameras have already been distributed to BSF personnel, with an additional 2,500 units to be deployed in the coming weeks. The compact, battery-operated digital cameras come with night-recording capabilities and are attached to uniform shirts or winter jackets. They will be used to record arrests, pushbacks of illegal immigrants, smugglers’ movements, and any incidents involving attacks or disagreements during patrolling.

The decision to introduce these cameras comes in response to a rise in cross-border incidents. In 2024, there were 77 recorded attacks on BSF troops along the Indo-Bangladesh border. In the first half of 2025 alone, 35 such incidents have already taken place. The number of infiltration attempts has also grown. Last year, BSF apprehended 2,425 people attempting to enter India and 1,049 individuals trying to cross into Bangladesh. From January 1 to July 15 this year, 1,372 incoming and 3,536 outgoing illegal movements have been detected.

Officers said the cameras will improve safety and accountability, while helping reduce false allegations made by illegal entrants or even the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB). The footage will be crucial for internal reviews and bilateral discussions when incidents occur.

In addition to body-worn cameras, BSF has installed biometric authentication systems at high-sensitivity posts along the border. These systems are linked with the Bureau of Immigration’s Foreigners Identification Portal (FIP) and are being used to instantly verify and log the details of illegal immigrants. The goal is to create a central record to prevent repeat infiltration attempts. More than 2,500 Bangladeshi nationals have been deported in recent months through official border crossings.

India shares a 4,096-kilometre-long border with Bangladesh, touching five states — West Bengal (2,216.7 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km), and Mizoram (318 km). The terrain includes riverine stretches, forested areas, and densely populated villages, making surveillance and fencing a major challenge. Of the total border length, only 3,196 km is fenced; the remaining 850 km is largely unfenced due to floods, proximity of human settlements, and geographic difficulties.

To counter these limitations, BSF has increased round-the-clock surveillance through observation posts, border floodlights, watercraft patrols, and floating border outposts.

During the BSF-BGB Director General-level talks held in February this year, India raised concerns about attacks on BSF personnel and Indian civilians by miscreants based in Bangladesh. Both sides agreed to intensify coordinated patrols, especially at night, and share real-time intelligence on trafficking networks. They also committed to assisting in the rescue and rehabilitation of human trafficking victims.

The introduction of body-worn cameras is being seen as a step toward fulfilling those commitments and reducing the scope for conflict or miscommunication during sensitive cross-border operations.