The Hindu : New Delhi News : Red alert at Delhi airport

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 12, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Red alert at Delhi airport

Mandira Nayar and Devesh K. Pandey

Frisking, manual checking of baggage has been intensified

AND NOT JUST THE AIRPORT: Central Reserve Police Force personnel patrolling the India Gate area in New Delhi on Friday following intelligence inputs that Al-Qaeda militants have sneaked into the Capital. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

NEW DELHI: Delhi airport was put on "red alert" on Friday in the wake of intelligence reports that terrorist group Al-Qaeda planned to target it. Security at both the international and domestic terminals was stepped up several notches with anti-hijack and anti-sabotage measures put in place.

"Intelligence inputs have warned that Al-Qaeda militants have sneaked into the Capital and one of their targets is the airport, so security has been tightened,'' said sources.

With security personnel taking no chances, frisking and manual checking of baggage has been intensified further leading to delays in flights. Long queues were the order of the day at the airport on Friday as most flights ran almost an hour behind schedule. "About 15 to 20 international flights were delayed on Thursday night. There is no change in the situation on Friday with increased checking. Domestic flights are also running behind schedule," said an airport official.

Enforcing strict rules for baggage on international flights bound for Britain and the United States after the foiled terrorist attempt at Heathrow airport in London, passengers are not being allowed to carry hand baggage on to the aircraft. "Only tickets and passports are allowed. No infant food will be allowed on these flights unless the passenger tastes the food in front of the security personnel. No liquids are being allowed on board,'' said an airline official.

However, domestic airlines have not resorted to such extreme measures. With most of them still unclear on the "liquid" issue, there are restrictions on some hand-baggage, but most airlines are letting passengers carry one bag or a laptop to the flight.

The presence of air marshals -- security personnel deployed in aeroplanes -- is likely to be made compulsory all year round. While at the moment sky marshals are used in certain "sensitive" sectors, airlines expect that they might now become a norm on flights.

"It has been seen that security personnel usually get a little intimidated by people in uniform and are often hesitant to check them. But the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has now issued orders that all security personnel have full authority to check whoever they want," said an airport official.

In a related development, Delhi Police Commissioner K.K. Paul on Friday said the entire force was on high alert in view of the upcoming Independence Day celebrations. He denied that the police had received any specific input on threats of a possible terrorist strike.

Dr. Paul said though the US Embassy here had issued an advisory to American nationals to keep a low profile, no official communication in this regard had been sent to the police. "We are not leaving any stone unturned in identifying and plugging loopholes, if any," he said.

Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal has issued directions to the Chief Secretaries of all States to sensitise landlords and vehicle dealers about the need to verify the antecedents of prospective tenants and buyers.

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