When negotiations failed, commandoes took over

August 17, 2015 09:29 am | Updated November 16, 2021 04:31 pm IST - BENGALURU:

Handling of the tense situation at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) turned out to be the first operation for the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the State’s elite anti-terror commando strike force, Garuda.

The commandoes, stationed at the Centre for Counter-terrorism, Kudlu, took over the criminal ward of the campus within half an hour of the prisoner-turned-gunman, Vishwanath, locked inside the guardroom, fired the first shots.

They conducted a drill of the area, securing all entries and exits to the room, and surrounded the building, standing on guard as the city police engaged the gunman in a prolonged negotiation.

Initially, the hope was to wear the prisoner down through talks. The police first appealed to him through a loudspeaker to surrender. They later threw a mobile phone through the window of the guardroom and made Vishwanath talk to his mother, but it did not yield any response from the prisoner-tuned-gunman.

“He did not speak to his mother for long. He disconnected the call,” an official said. A senior official on the spot said Vishwanath was also asked if he had any demands, to which he did not put forth any.

While this led to a fear among the police that he may kill himself, City Police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh took an on-the-spot call to storm the room and neutralise the gunman around 7 p.m. Things moved swiftly after that and it was all over within a matter of 15 minutes.

“We were given a clearance to storm the room at 7 p.m. and the team successfully neutralised the gunman by 7.15 p.m. We did not suffer any injuries,” T. Suneel Kumar, Additional Director-General of Police, Internal Security Division, said.

“The QRT commandoes took a great risk storming the room with a man said to have mental health issues and armed with five rifles and around 100 rounds of ammunition. Commandoes retaliated with fire when confronted with fire from the gunman. They usually don’t take chances and fire at vital organs,” Mr. Megharikh said.

A critically injured Vishwanath was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of NIMHANS, where doctors performed a surgery to retrieve bullets and save him. Around 11.30 p.m., the police confirmed via Twitter that Vishwanath had died.

Scrambling for cover

Hundreds of anxious passersby gathered at the entrance of the criminal ward of NIMHANS to catch a glimpse of the drama taking place on the campus. The police had a tough time chasing away the crowds as gunshots were heard at regular intervals.

The traffic police, who rushed to the spot to provide logistic support, were heard asking people to go home and watch it live on TV.

The police had a tough time deciding which people were there for treatment and which ones were just onlookers. In the end, everyone was asked to move back from the area. “I was leaving after visiting the OPD block nearby when I heard that a few people had been taken hostage. I came here to see what is happening,” said 58-year-old Rudrappa.

The big media tussle

Media personnel, who had managed to jump the outer fence of the ward to get closer to the action, were forced to scramble for cover once the initial gunshots were heard. Eventually, more cameramen entered the cordoned-off area and when the gunfire was heard, they beat a hasty exit again.

How the events unfolded

4:30 pm: Vishwanath (22), a patient in the criminal ward of NIMHANS, snatches gun from one of the CAR guards at the ward. Guards run out and lock him up in the room. 5:00 pm: The Quick Response Team of the elite anti-terror commando strike force Garuda reaches the spot and takes over the premises. Police engage in prolonged negotiations. 7:00 pm: City Police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh gives clearance to the Garuda force to storm the room. 7:15 pm: The Garuda force completes the operation by neutralising the gunman. Commandoes shoot at the gunman injuring him critically. He is shifted to the ICU of NIMHANS to undergo a surgery. 11:30 pm: Pratap Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police (West), tweets that Vishwanath has succumbed to his injuries.

About the prisoner

Vishwanath (22), a resident of Kaval Byrasandra, was arrested in May 2012 on the charge of setting vehicles on fire by the D.J. Halli police and had two cases against him. He had been lodged in the Bengaluru Central Prison since then.

According to the D.J. Halli police, Vishwanath’s father had died many years ago, leaving behind two sons and a wife. At an age of 17, Vishwanath had become a drug addict was a troublemaker in the area. He would pick up fights with the residents and beat them up over trivial issues. His mother and younger brother were summoned by the police to convince Vishwanath after he was locked up inside guardroom of the criminal ward.

A spectacle everyone wanted a glimpse of

Hundreds of anxious passersby gathered at the entrance of the criminal ward of NIMHANS to catch a glimpse of the drama taking place on the campus. The police had a tough time chasing away the crowds as gunshots were heard at regular intervals.

The traffic police, who rushed to the spot to provide logistic support, were heard asking people to go home and watch it live on TV.

The police had a tough time deciding which people were there for treatment and which ones were just onlookers. In the end, everyone was asked to move back from the area. “I was leaving after visiting the OPD block nearby when I heard that a few people had been taken hostage. I came here to see what is happening,” said 58-year-old Rudrappa.

The big media tussle

Media personnel, who had managed to jump the outer fence of the ward to get closer to the action, were forced to scramble for cover once the initial gunshots were heard. Eventually, more cameramen entered the cordoned-off area and when the gunfire was heard, they beat a hasty exit again.

Previous incidents

May 16, 2015: Shiva Kumar (39) escaped from Victoria Hospital after he was sent as caretaker for another prison inmate. He was found in a train to Mysuru a day later.
April 11, 2015: Admitted to NIMHANS, murder convict Anand Kumar (32) bit a police constable and repeatedly slashed at a police constable in a bid to escape. He was caught nearby after fleeing from the hospital.
April 10, 2015: Manjunath (30), a murder convict serving life term, escaped from Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara after posing as a visitor.
September 1, 2013: Serial rapist Jaishankar (38), who was recently sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in a rape and murder case, escaped by scaling the walls of Bengaluru Central Prison using a bamboo pole. He was arrested a few days later.

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