IAF jet shoots down suspicious balloon-shaped object

IAF officials said the object was flying in from the western sector (implying Pakistani side) and was shot down this morning.

The report quoted defence sources as saying that the object was likely to be a meteorological balloon and further investigation was underway. Sources have also told NDTV that the Su-30 which made the intercept brought down the balloon using its main gun.

Indian fighter jet on Tuesday drops down five bombs in Barmer area of Rajasthan, resulting in an explosion heard in 10 kilometre radius, ANI news agency reported. The Air Force denies that its jets dropped anything.

Similar blast sounds were heard previous year in January month at Sinleejageer village, and IAF was probing that incident too, the police said.

A police team was rushed to these villages, which found cone-shaped metallic objects. Nobody was reported injured. In a nationwide search, 14 suspected sympathizers of ISIS have been arrested from cities including Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Hollande as chief guest in a show of solidarity with France after terrorist attacks in Paris last November killed 130.