Terrorists Targeted India's Outsourcing Industry

Filed in archive Outsourcing News on March 8, 2005

India's software and services outsourcing companies may be a target for terrorists group. Nevertheless, companies said that they are prepared to cope with the threat.

On Friday, police seized documents from the terrorist group, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). According to Karnal Singh, Delhi police joint commissioner, these documents detailed suicide attack plans on Bangalore software companies.

With Bangalore home to many Indian software outsourcing companies and multinational companies, Singh said, "[LeT] planned to hit these companies in an effort to hinder the economic development of the country."

Multinational companies like IBM, Intel, Texas Instruments and Accenture have outsourcing units in Bangalore. India's largest software and IT services outsourcing companies, Wipro and Infosys Technologies are also based in the city. Additionally, India's defense research and development organizations are located there.

According to Nasscom president Kiran Karnik, Bangalore companies have already set up recovery plans for terrorist attacks. Indian software companies employ rigid security checks in their facilities. Moreover, they have business continuity and disaster recovery plans to ensure continued operations.

Karnik added, "Terrorism is a global problem and the threat in India is not greater than that in other countries."