ISRO chief Madhavan Nair given Z category security

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair and six other prominent space
scientists have been provided with security cover following
threat to their lives after a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant claimed
that plans were being hatched to kidnap or assassinate them.

Sources in the Union Home Ministry said 65-year-old
Nair, who is also Secretary, Department of Space, had
been provided with "Z" category security while the other six
scietists associated with the satellite and rocket divisions
were given "Y" category security.

The move comes in the wake of interrogation of Furfur
Nawaz alias Shabaz Nawaz, a Lashkar militant, recently
deported from a Gulf country. He told the interrogators that
Lashker had made plans to either kidnap or assassinate some of
the prominent scientists including Nair, the sources said.

Under the Z category, Nair, a recipient of country's
second highest civilian award -- Padma Vibushan -- will have
an escort and guards round-the-clock. The other scientists
will have a Personal Security Officer and two guards each.

When contacted over phone, Director (Public Relations)
of ISRO S Satish told PTI that the organisation had received
an alert from Union Home Ministry following which the security
was reviewed and necessary measures were taken.

The security of the campus and some of the prominent
scientists was reviewed, he said, without divulging any of the
names.

Sources in the Indian Home Ministry said security
around other scientific installation across the country has
also been enhanced manifold.

During interrogation, Nawaz said that he had conducted
a recce of important scientific installations in Bangalore,
the sources said.

He said second-rung leadership of Lashker had also
visited gulf countries to prepare modules to target
scientists.

"Some money had also been allocated for the purpose,"
the sources said quoting Nawaz's interrogation report. PTI SKL
SAK
NNNN