IIT-K out to secure best brains

AS THE terrorists look for the soft targets, the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, is planning to secure the best brains and facilities through what it’s best at: technology.

The premier institute, it is learnt, is in top gear to address its security concerns and is likely to fall back on cutting-edge technology to combat a clear and present danger. The IIT mandarins, after the terror visited the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore, are burning midnight oil to come up with security blue print with technology at its bottom.

The security concept, sources said, has the endorsement of the Union home ministry that could, of late, contribute with funding the plan. MoS for home affairs, SP Jaiswal had detailed discussions on Thursday with the IIT and the police authorities to bring campus that constantly blinks on terror radar, under e-surveillance.

“IIT can do it on its own, it has the funds and the expertise to lay a new and foolproof security format,” Jaiswal told HT over telephone from New Delhi. “In between IIT has been asked to reinforce the current security structure as well,” he added. At present, explain sources at IIT, the concept is heavily influenced by the thought of issuing ‘smart cards’ to all the visitors other equipping the campus with gizmos for e-surveillance.

The cards fitted with specially designed chips, will work on GPRS technology and the security personnel can monitor all the individuals on the computer screen.

“We can ascertain where the person is heading to, whom he’s meeting with etc..,” said the source. The only glitch is the cost of each card and their production on a large-scale detail of which are being worked out.

Introduction of new security mechanism is being seen as a ‘must do’ as IIT is home to, at least, six of those scientists having a major role in country’s aerospace and missile programme. The research facilities these scientists work in are state-of-the-art and repository of highly classified information.

No wonder, the IIT authorities are more than willing to draw scientists, their homes and their facilities instantly under flawless electronic eye. Director Prof Sanjay G Dhande has already gone on record to accept that with IISc attack his worst fears have come true institute and that he did information about IIT-K being on militants’ hit-list.

If the plan goes with current concept, the nearest Kalyanpur police station will also be technologically upgraded —- a point Jaiswal raised repeatedly in his meetings with police officials. Jaiswal is of the view the police could utilise the money allocated under police modernisation scheme.