No bullet shell from attackers' guns found

While the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel guarding the Rs 100 crore ISRO's Bylalu facility claim to have fired a few rounds at two suspects in retaliation, the Bangalore Rural District police who are investigating the case feel the incident could actually be a case of mistaken identity or human error.

The incident

Constable Jadhav, who opened fire at the ISRO main gate told the police that he saw two persons moving around the restricted area and they fired at him in the wee hours of Tuesday and later fled the scene when he fired at them in retaliation.

Strangely, investigators did not find a single trace of any of the bullet that were reportedly fired at Jadhav.

ADGP AR Infant at a press conference

Jadhav, who was on duty along with ASI Nayak and HC Madayan, was the only one to see the 'two shooters' while the other two were away patrolling.

Additional Director General of Police (law and order) AR Infant, who is investigating the case, said it had not yet been verified if two attackers had indeed arrived on the spot and fired at Jadhav.

No attack?

"Preliminary investigations so far have not revealed any attack. The police have combed the entire area and have not obtained empty shells or even bullet marks on the scene," Infant said.

Five empty shells

The police did however, manage to recover five empty shells that belonged to Jadhav and are searching for the remaining three cartridges, he added.

ISRO in Bylalu

The ISRO installation at Bylalu consists of two antennas of 18-metre and 32-metre diameter. The 18-metre antenna, imported from Germany, was installed in six months. The 32-metre antenna, a joint venture of the Electronics Corporation of India and BARC was set up in 2007.