Hijack threat keeps airports on high alert

New Delhi: Following a warning mail allegedly from terrorist groups about a possible hijack in Chennai, Delhi and Bangalore airports, security has been stepped up in all the airports across the country.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation has issued a hijack warning after a mail, which said that on December 6, terror groups might strike at these airports to hijack a plane. Anti-sabotage teams have already been formed at these airports and all airlines have been informed.

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All hand baggage are being physically checked by security forces even after they have been put through the X-ray. All cars approaching the airports are also being checked and the passengers are needed to report three hours in advance.

The CISF and the NSG have been alerted after a security review meeting chaired by the Aviation Secretary on Monday. The IB is trying to ascertain who is behind the mail, which was sent last week to a news organisation in Gujarat.

Government has received inputs about terrorists' plans to carry out a 9/11-type aerial attack on targets in India, Air chief Fali Homi Major has said.

"This (report about terrorists carrying out possible aerial attacks) is based on a warning, which has been received (by the government) and we are prepared as usual," Major told reporters after laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate on the occasion of Navy Day.

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He said the issue was discussed during the meeting of three service chiefs with Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday at South Block. "

Addressing a group of pressmen on Thursday, Union Civil Aviation Secretary M Madhavan Nambiar said, "There is a threat perception and we are taking all necessary steps" to meet the "primary concern" of providing security to passengers and the airports."

Maintaining that a nationwide alert notice for all international and some other airports was issued following the multiple terror strikes in Mumbai, Government's aviation security chief R R P N Sahi said, "it was made to augment the existing security arrangements ... Or to take them a step further to augment the prevailing security levels."

Without divulging details, Sahi, the Commissioner of Security (Civil Aviation), said the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, which he heads, had issued guidelines to all concerned agencies and airlines to beef up security.

Security beefed up in Chennai airport

Nambiar also asked the electronic media "to ensure that no information is aired without proper verification. Let us not create panic." In an appeal to the passengers, he said the airlines have been asked to inform the travellers that they should come before the required time for check-in due to the heightened security measures, like ladder-point checking.

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