I am a collaborator on the above publication. Neither IISc nor us have LCMV, which is a BSL-3/4 pathogen. We had used a commercially available kit which contains antigen for performing a serological survey. As far as I am aware, no one is working on the virus in India. Even if so, one would need a BSL-3/4 facility to handle the virus.
LCMV is NOT a BSL 3 (let alone a BSL 4) here in the US. Regular strains (both the acute Armstrong and Chronic clone 13) are listed as BSL 2 in the BMBL 5th ed. page 237 (http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/bmbl5/bmbl.pdf). BSL 3 is ONLY required for high risk situations (potential for aerosol production, work with potentially human adapted strains, experiments with guinea pig passaged strains). The risk is usually overstated as LCMV is a know teratogen with makes regulatory committees nervous (we have recently encountered such a case). Now I don't know if Indian regulatory authorities will consider the BMBL authoritative, or even wether they then will follow it's recommendations (US IBC committees will but are free to require greater, though as I understand it not lesser, containment).
I agree Hans about the classification in the US since I worked there for over 13 years (8 years at OHSU in fact). In India, LCMV is classified as Risk Group III according to the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation, which oversees research work involving biosafety in addition to recombinant DNA. Risk Group III means it is recommended to use a Class III biological safety cabinet or a flexible-firm isolator; I would say that this at least BSL2+/BSL3. I also, however, agree that the local Institutional Biosafety Committees will have to make the call.
NIV Pune in Maharashtra may be working on this virus.otherwise one can also explore BHOPAL BSL4 lab with dept of animal husbandry which working on many viruses. otherwise no other lab is doing this study.