Security beefed up at airport after terror alert

Security has been tightened at the Mumbai airport after an alert from the Union Home ministry indicated that a terrorist group could attempt to blow up the airport on April 22.

Security has been tightened at the Mumbai airport after an alert from the Union Home ministry indicated that a terrorist group could attempt to blow up the airport on April 22.

HT Image

“We have beefed up surveillance as per the procedure laid down by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security,” said Jitender Negi, senior commandant, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The ministry has asked all airlines to frisk passengers at the tarmac too before boarding the aircraft. Under normal circumstances, the security force frisk passengers only at the security hold.

The CISF has also strengthened the deployment of armed jawans at makeshift booths outside the terminal and stepped up patrolling along the airport boundary that is surrounded by slums.

“Many aircraft are parked close to the airport boundary because of lack of parking bays in the space-strapped airport,” said a CISF official, requesting anonymity. A dedicated team of the security personnel is monitoring the close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras 24x7 for any suspicious activity in the terminal.

“Special squads in plainclothes have been patrolling the terminal. Officers monitoring the CCTV tip them off when they spot anything suspicious,” said the CISF official.

The CISF has received as many as 113 terror alerts in 2009. According to the BCAS policy, each security alert lasts for a week.

“We have been getting all kinds of terror alerts, including suicide bombings, hijack threats and possibility of strikes by a group of gunmen,” added the CISF official.