The Hindu : National : Hijack alert for IA flights to Kathmandu

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Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004

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Hijack alert for IA flights to Kathmandu

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, SEPT. 6. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) headquarters in New Delhi has information that Maoist rebels in Nepal are planning to hijack an Indian Airlines aircraft flying to Kathmandu to press for the release of their leaders.

An "alert message" has been passed on to different airlines operating in the region, informed sources told The Hindu here today.

The message, dated September 4, has been sent to the airline authorities from the office of the Commandant, CISF, Ministry of Home Affairs. It says: "...Considering the above threat call, special care should be taken during operation of Indian Airlines flights for Kathmandu — that is checking of registered baggage. Care should [also] be taken while ferrying passengers from the boarding gate [of the airports] to the aircraft by bus."

The warning, however, is not confined to flights to and from Kathmandu. It continues: "Apart from the above, during the operation of all domestic flights, special attention may be given towards Nepali or Nepali-looking passengers and in any case of any suspicion the matter may be informed to the CISF for further profiling."

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