Security beefed up at airport

Do not be alarmed if airport security personnel pick you for a second round of frisking at the tarmac in Mumbai. In the wake of the hijack alert across all Indian airports on Friday, the CISF has randomly begun checking passengers, reports HT Correspondent.

Do not be alarmed if airport security personnel pick you for a second round of frisking at the tarmac in Mumbai. In the wake of the hijack alert across all Indian airports on Friday, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has randomly begun checking passengers.

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The paramilitary force has increased the deployment of Quick Response Teams (QRTs) outside the domestic and international terminals. QRTs comprise specially trained armed jawans posted at security booths at the airport’s entry points.

“It is a preventive measure to tackle a fidayeen (suicide) attack,” said a senior CISF official, requesting anonymity.

Airport officials said frequency of patrolling inside the terminal has been stepped up.

“A team monitoring the closed-circuit television cameras will tip off the patrolling team about people suspiciously moving around the terminal,” added the official.

Usually the security alert in the run-up to Republic Day is withdrawn on January 27. This year, the cover has been extended till January 31. Weekly holidays of all CISF personnel have been cancelled till then.