The Indian Air Force (IAF) said April 10 that officials found responsible for the operational lapse that resulted in the March 9 misfire of a supersonic cruise missile into Pakistan will face a “severe punishment.” The IAF concluded from its investigation that some officials violated standard operating procedures, resulting in the accidental firing of a missile, India-based news agency ANI reported, citing unnamed government sources. “More than one official has been found blameworthy for the incident, which was totally avoidable. The guilty officials would be given a swift and severe punishment,” the government sources were quoted saying in the report. One of the officials is the commanding officer of the Brahmos unit, a group captain (colonel), according to unnamed sources cited by the Times of India. “The overall standard operating procedures for the operations, maintenance, and inspections of such missile systems have also been reviewed,” the sources said. The sources …