India test fired a short-range Trishul missile yesterday, the second test of the missile in two days, a defence ministry official said.

The missile, which has a range of nine km, was fired from India's main testing centre in Chandipur-on-Sea in Orissa, the official said. The site is 1,200 km southeast of New Delhi.

Defence ministry officials say the repeated test firings prove the missile's accuracy and other parameters.

The missile, designed for India's army, navy and air force, was developed by the government's Defence Research and Development Organisation. India routinely test-fires missiles it is developing for military use. When it tests larger missiles, it gives notice to neighbouring Pakistan, and Pakistan does likewise.

India's missile arsenal includes the short-range ballistic missile Prithvi; the medium range Agni and Akash missiles; the anti-tank Nag missile; and the supersonic Brahmos missile.

Last week India tested a new, extended-range version of its nuclear-capable Prithvi missile, which could easily reach Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

It also tested a Trishul on Thursday.