ISRO security breach: Organized stupidity effect

AK Ramdas 26 September 2012

It is inconceivable that a woman, supposedly mentally unstable, first checks into an ISRO campus guest house, and next day visits the headquarters and nobody knew anything about it. A lot of questions need to be answered

It is inconceivable that a woman supposedly mentally unstable, suffering from depression (which doctor certified that?), first checks into an ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) campus guest house, stays for the whole day, and next day visits the headquarters, and nobody knew anything about it, until her fake ID is found.

Not satisfied with fooling the security system reportedly in place, she saunters into the ISRO headquarters and goes around as a ‘scientist’ from ISRO office in Mangalore, which does not exist! Whoever met her, or to whom she was introduced, or she herself introduced, did not know that non-existence of the Mangalore office? What a pity!

Her movements, however, were suspicious and that triggers a check on her credentials which were found to be false. On the TV channels, the news that was repeatedly broadcast, what was assuring was that “she did not get access to sensitive information”. Congratulations to concerned officials.

Meantime, when the security found that her ID was false, instead of summarily detaining her right there, they (who?) asked her to return to the guesthouse, and then alerted the CISF personnel, according to the Police Commissioner, BG Jyothi Mirgi! Why did they not detain

her right there or take her into interim custody for further investigation is a mystery!

What happens, if, instead of returning to the ISRO guest house, as ‘advised’ by the security personnel, she simply takes a cab and disappeared? How stupid can you get?

Until further and full investigations are made and the intruder, Buela M Sam is subject to detailed tests, it is hoped that she is kept in custody and all claims made by her and her husband be investigated thoroughly.

For all you know, she may be a really sick patient; but it is incredible to believe that a personal of such an unstable mind and subject to depression status can go the extent of obtaining an almost perfect ID and then walk into the ISRO headquarters. How did she obtain these?

There are lots of questions that need to be answered and it is time security is beefed up at all sensitive areas. How do we know that she was not carrying any photo-relay equipments in person of the installations that she saw as a ‘scientist’? It is shame on our poor security system, though someone found that something was not ‘clicking’ to alert higher officials. It is also a wonder how she did manage to fool her ‘colleagues’, whom she must have met during her visit, none of whom obviously bothered to exchange views with her. By the way, is she multi-lingual too?

A look at the CCTV, if it was working, in all the areas that she visited would be able to throw some light on what she was able to see, learn and observe!

(AK Ramdas has worked with the Engineering Export Promotion Council of the ministry of commerce and was associated with various committees of the Council. His international career took him to places like Beirut, Kuwait and Dubai at a time when these were small trading outposts; and later to the US. He can be contacted at [email protected].)

Comments

User

nagesh kini

1 decade ago

Mental instability has no visible indicators.
From the pics displayed she appears to be a charming and intelligent woman who charmed her entry and movements unquestioned! She gave no room for doubts.
The fact remains why and how long did it it take to suspect? As Ramdas rightly points out - with her lax handling she could have scooted. How stupid can our establishment be!
Security concerns my foot.

nagesh kini

1 decade ago