Washington: Prosecutors have invoked the Ohio state's Terrorism Law, which carries the death penalty, against Indian origin Biswanath Halder, charged with the shooting rampage at the Case Western Reserve University on May 9, in which one person was killed and two injured.

Halder, 62, from Cleveland, was arraigned during a video conference on May 30 from the Cuyahoga County jail. Common pleas judge Christopher Boyko ordered him to remain in custody without bond. Halder, who hails from Kolkata, has pleaded innocent to the 338 charges against him.

The indictment accuses Halder of terrorism with purpose to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.

Ohio Governor Bob Taft signed a Bill on May 15, 2002 to strengthen Ohio's ability to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism. The measure was based on a similar law passed in New York after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty if Halder was convicted of aggravated murder. Separately, a terrorism charge could lead to the death penalty, because it specifies aggravated murder as part of the crime.

The shooting shook the university community. Faculty members and others hid inside offices, classrooms and closets until SWAT (specially trained anti-riot squads) teams and FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) agents got them out after about seven hours.

Halder, a graduate of the very prestigious Business School of the University, where the shooting took place, was charged with killing graduate student Norman Wallace, 30, of Youngstown. He was also charged with the attempted murder of police officers and civilians, kidnapping, aggravated burglary and illegal weapons possession.

Cuyahoga county assistant prosecutor Rick Bell said prosecutors believe Halder opened fire in the school because he was upset at the management of the school and at a student-employee he believed hacked into his website.

Halder had filed a lawsuit blaming a computer lab employee for destroying his website devoted to helping fellow Indians from businesses. He sued university employee Shawn Miller in 2001, but the lawsuit was dismissed and his appeal was recently rejected. Miller was part of a group escorted out of the building by police near the end of the standoff.

Halder told the judge that he understood the charges, but pleaded innocent.

However, public defender Walter Camino, who was representing Halder for May 30 hearing, said Halder had trouble reading the lengthy indictment because jail officials had taken away his glasses. The judge said the glasses would be returned.

Bell said Halder's glasses were taken away because he is accused of committing a heinous crime and "we didn't want him to hurt anyone else".

He also said the glasses were taken as evidence because witnesses described them to help identify Halder.

Halder had told the authorities that he had no money to pay for his defence. The judge appointed lawyer James Kersey to represent Halder. Public defenders will assist Kersey.

PTI