By IANS,
Bangalore: Security was stepped up around the sensitive Deep Space Network (DSN) facility of India’s space agency ISRO near here after a shootout early Tuesday between two unidentified men and security guards. Police said hunt was on for the men and maintained it was not a terror attack.
The incident occurred at Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) complex in Byalalu, 40 km from here. “There is no injury or damage,” ISRO director S. Satish told IANS.
“We have enhanced security and stepped up vigil in and around the DSN after the exchange of fire between two unidentified suspects and our security guards around 3.30 a.m.,” Satish said.
He said the two men were found moving in suspicious circumstances and were questioned by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel guarding the DSN.
“One of them opened fire with a small pistol. The two managed to escape in the pre-dawn darkness when the CISF guards returned fire,” Satish said.
Police said it was not a terror attack. But Additional Director General of Police A.R. Infant told reporters that police found six empty cartridges while the CISF sentry, identified only as Jhadhav, said he had fired eight rounds after one of the men opened fire.
While a search was under way for the two men reportedly involved in the shootout, police admitted that there was no clear description of them.
“Since it was dark, we have not got clear description of the two men from the sentries on duty. We are collecting information on movement of vehicles and people around the facility at that time as some construction work is on nearby,” a senior police official told IANS on condition of anonymity.
State Home Minister V.S. Acharya told reporters that an enquiry has been ordered into the incident.
Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram said in New Delhi that the shootout did not appear to be a terror attack.
“There is no threat to ISRO. It is an amateurish attack,” he said.
The space network was set up in 2007 by the state-run ISRO for receiving data and images from its first unmanned lunar exploration mission Chandrayaan-1 that was launched Oct 22, 2008, and orbited around the moon till Aug 30, 2009.
The Rs.1 billion saucer-shaped facility consists of an 18-metre and 32-metre antennae for the space agency’s lunar and inter-planetary exploratory missions.
As one of the country’s high-profile and vital installations, the space agency’s sensitive facilities in Bangalore and other cities are reported to be on the radar of terror elements.
“All our facilities and centres are protected and guarded by CISF with the latest security gadgets and weapons as per the home ministry guidelines,” ISRO director Satish said.