17 Mar : Mystery shrouded a reported shooting incident at the ISRO complex in Banglore with a security guard claiming that two unidentified persons shot at him in the wee hours but police raised doubts and virtually ruled out any terror attack.
ISRO sources said a CISF constable at the Indian Deep Space Network facility at Byalalu on the outskirts of the city reported spotting two men in khaki uniform, saying they fired at him with small pistols and that he had retaliated.
The facility has a tracking station for ISRO’s satellite missions.
“There are no signs of any firing from outside”, ADGP(Law and Order) A R Infant told reporters.
“On the face of it it does not appear to be a terror attack’, he said.
No bullet marks were found on the boundary walls nor any empty cartridges at the spot from where the duo reportedly opened fire, he said, doubting the claim of CISF constable Jhadav that he returned fire from the main gate during the incident that purportedly took place at 3.20 A.M.
Two other CISF personnel on duty were not at the spot during the alleged firing and came there later.
Police have recovered six empty cartridges out of the eight rounds Jhadav fired, Infant said adding the constable and other security personnel and staff were being questioned.
“There is no cause for panic whatsover,” he said.
In Delhi, the Home Ministry said it has sought a report from the Karnataka government on the sequence of events.
Based on preliminary information, Home Minister P Chidambaram said, “This seems to be an amateurish attempt made by two men with country-made pistols.”
Chidamabaram said he has asked CISF, which is in-charge of the security of ISRO, to do “another security review” of the area.