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Rediff.com  » News » Security was light at IISc, Bangalore

Security was light at IISc, Bangalore

By Sheela Bhatt in Mumbai
December 29, 2005 00:42 IST
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Even five hours after the shoot-out at Banglore Indian Institute of Science, in which a IIT, Delhi professor was killed and four injured, the Bangalore Police will not confirm if the incident is a terrorist act.

The police say most of the security guards fled the scene when the firing started. One of the guards, who may have seen the assailants, is being questioned by the police.

The use of an AK-47 rifle is the only clue leading police to believe that it could be an act of terror but they won't conclusively say it till all witnesses are interrogated.

The police say only one man was involved in the firing. He was wearing a mask and a dark coloured uniform. After reckless shooting he ran away in the white Ambassador car. Besides the driver and assailant, it is not known if there were others in the car.

The cop who warned of an attack

An AK-47-like weapon, 11 empty cartridges, two live magazines of an automatic weapon and a live grenade packed in a cotton pouch were recovered from the scene, Director General of Karnataka Police B S Sial told reporters.

Those injured in the incident have been taken to hospital and are not in position to give an information.

The academicians and staff of IISc are shell-shocked. Dr A K Sud, professor of physics, who lives on the campus, told rediff.com, "We did not anticipate this incident in our kind of environment. But now it seems that nobody is spared.

"Entry to the our campus is quite free though we have guards at the gate. But we don't have extraordinary security. It seems that the situation is changing," he added.

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Sheela Bhatt in Mumbai