BENGALURU: Bangalore University (BU) has bought two air guns and one pistol, instead of rifles that it had planned, for increasing security on the Jnana Bharathi campus.
Following the recent incident in which over 30 sandalwood trees were stolen from the campus, the university had decided to apply for rifle licences with the police commissioner. “But, considering the long process to get the licence to buy rifles, we have decided to go for air guns,” said Prof K N Ningegowda, BU registrar-administration.
Air guns are cheaper than rifles. According to BU authorities, in all they spent `13,000 for two air guns and one pistol.
“The 303 air gun uses rubber bullets which create noise to alert security guards the other one is a sten gun which uses both rubber and aluminium bullets. The pistol uses aluminium bullets, which, when fired at a person, can cause injury but will not kill,” explained a retired police officer hired by BU. These three weapons will be used on the campus from Sunday (December 18).
“We have hired four retired police sub-inspectors to handle these weapons. They will do the rounds of the campus during night. As there is no need of a licence to use these guns, we have taken them in the name of one ex-serviceman who is also our staffer,” said Gowda.
Bio-park to be protected area
The university has also decided to declare the bio-park area, which houses many species of animals and birds, as ‘Protected Area’. “We found that morning walkers are feeding these animals and birds. We are completely stopping people from entering that zone and the university is constructing small water tanks at various places of the bio-park area where we will fill water and also feed the birds and animals living there,” Ningegowda said.