Mar 16, 2010, 7:44 GMT
New Delhi - Two people engaged Tuesday in an exchange of gunfire with security personnel outside a high-security facility of India's space agency in the southern city of Bangalore, officials said.
Two men were seen moving around the heavily guarded Indian Space Research Organisation building early Tuesday in Bayalu on the outskirts of Bangalore and, when challenged by security personnel, fired at the officers with a small pistol, after which the security men returned fire, organization spokesman S Satish said.
Police launched a search for the two men, who fled after the shootout.
The Bayalu facility houses the tracking station for satellite missions. India's Chandrayaan-1 moon mission in 2008-2009 was also tracked from the space centre.
The Home Ministry has identified the organization's facilities among high-risk targets for terrorists.
It was too early to say whether the shootout had a terrorist connection, said Kamal Panth, inspector general of police.
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