India tested two short-range nuclear-capable missiles along its eastern coast on Friday, an official said, as part of the nation's efforts to build up its nuclear deterrent. One missile named Dhanush, which means "archer's bow" in Sanskrit, was fired Friday morning from a naval ship in the Bay of Bengal off eastern Orissa state.
The second missile, the Prithvi II, or Earth, blasted off soon afterwards from a testing range at Chandipur-on-Sea, 200 kilometres (160 miles) north-east of Bhubaneswar, Orissa's state capital.