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US gropes for security solution to holiday travel

If you are headed for the US for Christmas or the New Year’s and plan to fly around here be prepared to be body screened and felt up and down especially in the no-go areas as security is ramped up across airports. Or, when leaving.

Updated on: Nov 23, 2010, 24:45:25 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Washington
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If you are headed for the US for Christmas or the New Year’s and plan to fly around here be prepared to be body screened and felt up and down especially in the no-go areas as security is ramped up across airports. Or, when leaving.

HT Image
HT Image

The search has been variously described here as intrusive, invasive of privacy and aggressive, and has outraged enough Americans. But the authorities are not backing down calling it a small price to pay for safety.

Almost half a million Indians visited the US in 2009 according to US government data —549,000 — and especially vulnerable will be high-profile visitors who are either easily embarrassed or fall victim to overzealous security personnel.

The body scanners — called Advanced Imaging Technology — give security officials a view of the body under the clothes. Passengers can refuse it and opt for a pat down, which could happen any way if the scan showed anything suspicious.

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