HiJack Alerts on all Major Airports
Three major airports, at New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai are on a hijack alert for today, December 6, which happens to be the 16th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.
The Intelligence Bureau is still trying to trace the source of the mail, which has been traced to Gujarat.
The warning was issued on Wednesday by the Bureau of Civil Aviation after a mail, which said that on December 6, terror groups might strike at these airports, trying to hijack a plane.
Since the threat came, the three airports have become like fortresses. However, this could not prevent a firing scare from bringing Delhi’s international airport to a halt for almost an hour a little after 1 am on Friday.
Passengers have been asked to report three hours in advance so that thorough security checks can be done.
All hand baggages are being physically checked by security forces even after they have been put through the X-ray.
Apart from it, all cars approaching the airports are being checked thoroughly.
CISF and NSG commandos have been deployed at all three airports. Anti-sabotage and quick reaction teams have also already been formed at these airports and all airlines have been informed.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India has tightened security across its major airports after a series of “hijack alerts” passed on to them by intelligence agencies following the Mumbai attacks, officials said on Friday.
Indian security officials said the latest general advisory to remain alert against possible hijacking attempts was issued by the government on Thursday.
“There was no specific alert, but a general advisory was issued to airport authorities, asking them to remain vigilant against possible hijacking,” Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor told Reuters by telephone.
“A lot of private planes and helicopters also operate in the airports these days and there is always a possibility of a plane being hijacked.”
Indian intelligence officials have warned the government that militants could hijack a plane to either seek release of those lodged in Indian jails or use it smash into government buildings.
A hijack alert was issued to authorities in Kolkata, officials said.
“We stepped up security further the moment the alert came,” Jayati Ghosh, senior official of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the main security agency manning India’s airports said from Kolkata.
Authorities had stepped up security in all airports considerably on the eve of India’s Republic Day celebrations on Jan. 26.
“We were on high alert in any case,” added Rohit Katiyar, a CISF official at the New Delhi airport.