CISF to be more disabled-friendly, explain security process before frisking

Central Industrial Security Force, responsible for airport security, had often faced criticism earlier for the way they handle clearance of persons with disabilities.

Often facing criticism for the way they handle the security clearance of persons with disabilities, especially those with prosthetic limbs, the aviation security force will install standing display boards listing the frisking procedure.

Two-time para-cycling medallist Aditya Mehta, in October last year, wrote on Facebook that CISF personnel at Bengaluru airport made him “undo and redo” his prosthesis during security check. (Sourced)

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for airport security, will brief passengers with disabilities about the security process and asked its personnel to be extra courteous.

A cabin has been set up so that such passengers don’t have to go through the security check in front of everyone.

“The rule clearly states frisking is mandatory and following that process, we usually remove the artificial limb, put it in a bag and scan it through the baggage scanner. The passengers are taken care of during the entire process,” said a CISF official.

At the Delhi airport, a standee, or display board, will be installed and passengers will be counselled with examples of airports where terrorists have used disability as a cover to carry explosives.

At least three passengers with disability use the Delhi airport every day and the CISF has a tough time in convincing them to go through the security process.

“The passengers often use social media to vent out their anger and often our point of view is not considered. This is a big security threat and we are bound to follow the security process,” the CISF official said.

The Bureau for Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the aviation security regulator, has laid down guidelines to check passengers with disabilities and has not given them security exemption.

In the guidelines, the BCAS talks about sensitisation of security personnel.

“A sensitisation course has been designed for CISF officials and standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been placed to check of persons with disabilities. An explosive trace detector (ETD) is used to check prosthetic limbs but it is meant only for detection of explosives as there is always a chance that someone may try to use a prosthetic limb to hide a weapon or for smuggling. The limb is put into the X-ray screener to check if anything is hidden inside,” the official added.

Disability rights activists had earlier asked the security agencies to follow international security standards where they check such passengers with ETDs.

The CISF is also showing a video to its personnel to raise awareness that how difficult and undignified it is to take off the prosthetic limb.