http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lucknow/Comps_stolen_from_Kanpur_DRDO_lab/articleshow/2560576.cms By Akhilesh Kumar Singh TNN 22 Nov 2007 KANPUR: In what can be termed as highly detrimental to national security, three computers, containing strategic information, have been recently stolen from premises of Kanpur-based Defence Material Store Research Development and Establishment (DMSRDE), a unit of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). And more shocking is the fact that the incident has reportedly taken place between November 16 and November 19, with former president APJ Abdul Kalam visiting the establishment on November 16. On Tuesday night, the Chakeri police registered a case on the complaint lodged by DMSRDE security officer R N Pandey. The matter was reported first last Monday when scientist Ashok Ranjan found the locks of Applied Chemistry department broken and three computers missing. "We have already informed DRDO headquarters and a six-member panel headed by assistant director Mohd Naseem has been constituted to look into the incident and submit a report within 15 days," DMSRDE director K U Bhaskar Rao told TOI on Wednesday. He said the incident was very serious as the entire premises was a high security zone. "However, it wont have any impact on the national security," he added. One stolen computer, "Drona," was connected to DRDO Intranet and contains information about DRDO scientists including their phone numbers, address, designations and also defence-related research projects they are associated with. The other computers contained software used for sample identification and quality measurement of defence-related products. The establishment is involved in several defence-related projects and its scientists are currently working on development of polymer being used in BrahMos missile, which was test-fired in February this year. The stolen computers were kept in the same laboratory where senior scientists are in the middle of developing the above polymers and information regarding the polymers slipping away in the wrong hands may not be ruled out. The establishment has developed many Nuclear Biological Chemical protection systems like a three-layered permeable suit which provides protection against toxic vapour aerosol and droplets. The suit gives high breath ability to reduce psychological stress and is vacuum-packed to give an extended storage life. The decontamination suit is another system developed by DMSRDE. It provides protection against toxic gases. Though authorities are non-committal about disclosing the details regarding data fed in the stolen computers, they may have contained information regarding above systems too and ramifications of such information passing in the hands of unwarranted elements can be easily understood. SP (City) Atul Saxena said the incident was not possible without connivance of an insider. "The entire boundary wall is fenced and the wires are electrified, so the theft has been done smartly. Besides finding the culprits, we are also groping on their possible intentions," Saxena said. __________________________________________________________________ Visit InfoSec News http://www.infosecnews.org/
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