New Delhi:
Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations and on account of heightened threat potential due to the Kashmir issue, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has put as many as 19 airports of India on high alert.
It is to be noted that the alert has been issued for airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Imphal, Chennai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Thiruvananthapuram, Raipur, Jaipur, Lucknow, Srinagar, Patna, Guwahati, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Dehradun and Ahmedabad.
“In view of the continuous threat to the civil aviation sector received from central security agencies, it is necessary to enhance the existing security measures being taken at all civil aviation installations like airports, airstrips, airfields, Air Force stations, helipads, flying schools aviation training institutes, etc so that no untoward incident takes place during Independence Day celebrations (August 15). Utmost precautions need to be taken by all the stakeholders,” the BCAS noted in its letter dated August 5.
The BCAS has further asked airport operators to monitor non-scheduled flight operations, including air ambulance. The latest alert, signed by Deputy Director General of BCAS, Ayush Mani Tiwari, is marked to all state and Union territory DGPs as well as authorities managing the airports.
Following the alert, the central government has tightened security arrangements at 19 airports across the country — banning entry of visitors inside terminal buildings from August 10 to 20 and carrying out intensive random vehicle checks 1 km from airport buildings.
Centre, by an order from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, has mandated additional security measures at the above mentioned airports until August 31 or until further orders.
On the other hand, the intelligence reports suggest that Jaish-e-Mohammad is planning for fidayeen attacks in the above mentioned airports. Also, the terrorists belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad are gathering near the border in Pakistan side. Reportedly, they have been asked whether to kill, or die.
