ISRO shootout not a terror attack: Police

The Bangalore police have ruled out a terrorist attack at the Indian Research Space Organisation. Putting to rest all possible speculations regarding the shootout that took place on Tuesday morning at the ISRO, the Bangalore police said that there may have been a confusion regarding the existence of two men who are alleged to have shot at the security guard.

Additional Director General of Police R Infant told mediapersons in Bangalore on Tuesday that although it is too early to say, but it could well be a case of mistaken identity.

It was extremely dark over there and the guard could have mistaken that there were two persons at the spot. Infant said that according to the statement of the constable at the spot, Jhadhav, there were eight rounds fired in all.

Six rounds from him while two were from the miscreants. However, after a thorough search the police have managed to recover just six rounds all of which were fired by the constable. As of now, there is no evidence to show that some miscreants had fired at the constable.

Infant further added that there was not much activity around the area, but around the same time two sand lorries had landed there as there was some construction work going.

"We are investigating whether two persons from the construction site had come near the gate," Infant said.

Police sources, meanwhile, add that the constable could have fired as he saw some suspicious movement.

The police are under immense pressure following the March 3 alert by the Central Intelligence Agencies warning of a terror strike in major cities including Bangalore.

Further there is the added pressure of the Indian Premier League game that is being played in Bangalore on Tuesday, which is also under the radar of terror outfits.

The statement of the constable states that at 3.20 am two persons were moving around near the ISRO gate. They opened two rounds, and he fired six rounds in retaliation.

PTI adds:

'Shooting outside ISRO facility an amateurish attempt'

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday termed the shooting incident outside the ISRO facility near Bangalore as an 'amateurish attempt' and said a security review of the sensitive facility has been ordered.

"This seems to be an amateurish attempt made by two men with country-made pistols," he told reporters.

Chidamabaram said he has asked CISF, which is in-charge of the security of ISRO, to do 'another security review' of the area. A team is investigating the matter, he said.

The Home Minister said preliminary reports state that two men shot at sentries posted at the ISRO facility from a distance of 10-15 metres in the early hours. The attackers had their faces covered. "The sentries fired back," he said. Chidambaram said there was no danger to the establishment.

CM orders investigation

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has ordered an investigation into the firing incident at ISRO's high security Chandrayaan tracking mission site at Byalalu on the outskirts of Bangalore.

"I am in constant touch with police officials. I have ordered an investigation into the incident," he told mediapersons.