Thieves experiment in Bangalore University Physics laboratory

The Jnanabharathi police, on Monday,  requested the registrar of Bangalore University to initiate an internal probe into the frequent thefts in the varsity’s Physics department.

Police wrote a letter to the registrar asking for an internal inquiry since they were suspecting the role of an insider. The Jnanabharathi police said they received six complaints since January 2010, regarding the thefts that had cost the department equipment worth Rs3.1 lakh.

BA Kagali, head of the Physics department, lodged the complaints.

The latest theft happened on Sunday.

“The laboratory, with inadequate security, has costly equipment. The miscreants did not enter the lab forcibly, which makes us suspect that the thefts were carried out by someone attached to the lab or the department,” BT Chidananda Swamy, inspector at Jnanabharathi police station, said.

Kagali expressed suspicion in his complaint that the thief had entered through the ventilator. The police, however, found the ventilator to be too small for someone to slide in. The doors of the lab were found intact.

In his complaint, the Physics department head said thieves had taken away copper, bronze, silver and other expensive parts of the equipment. He said there were only two home guards on security duty in the entire department, including the laboratory.

Kagli said he had requested the vice-chancellor for additional security.

“I spoke to the registrar and vice-chancellor on the need for strengthening the security. I have requested for a separate security set-up. The vice-chancellor said necessary arrangements will be made after an official meeting,” Kagali said.

Former registrar (administration) professor MH Krishnan said he had also received a complaint from the Physics department. He visited the laboratory and found there was a need to beef up the security.