Bangalore: The police and the intelligence officials did not give any information about a possible security threat or need for changes in
the security system prior to Wednesday’s terrorist attack, Director of Indian Institute of Science (IISc) P Balaram said here on Friday.
“Till I heard the gunshots and came to the auditorium complex, I had no inkling of any threat,” he said.
Asked about senior police officials having met him after April 10 -when a Tibetan activist held aloft a banner on the IISc building during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao – he said: “First of
all that incident was a political protest not directed against the institute. He chose the location because the Chinese Premier was
there. After that no police official met me or explained to me about changes to be made in the security system on the campus. I have not
received any letter or phone call in this regard.”
Following the latest incident, the IISc has started enhancing its security system, using “discreet surveillance systems”, Prof Balaram
said.
“Security does not mean more policing or personnel alone – that will affect the free atmosphere of the institute and it will become an
armed fortress. Problems of access and freedom will arise and destroy the ambiance of the institute. What is needed in the country is
modern, unobtrusive technology to enhance intelligence gathering operations and the way intelligence is disseminated,” he said.
“We will not enter into blame game, this is not the time for it. you can blame me but it will not serve any purpose. You cannot predict a
terrorist attack. It happens everywhere and now we have faced it too,”he said.
Most of the outgoing research projects at IISc do not relate to the defence sector. It became the target “because it is a symbol of India’s scientific advancement,” Prof Balaram said.
