Security enhanced at airports after hijack alert

NEW DELHI: All Indian airports were put on high alert and stringent security measures were introduced following warnings from intelligence agencies that Kashmiri terrorists may hijack a plane, officials said on Wednesday.

“Security at all airports has been increased after the ministry received a warning from the intelligence agencies,” a Civil Aviation Ministry spokesperson said.

“The alert was sounded four days ago and since then the airports in the country have been on high alert,” the spokesperson added. “The airlines have been advised to inform passengers to reach airports well ahead of time so that there are no delays due to security checks,” a Civil Aviation Ministry official told IANS.

“Security at all airports has been tightened and the Ministry is closely working with security agencies,” he added. A senior official of the Central Industry Security Force, which guards the airports all over the country, said: “January is generally a month of high alert due to the Republic Day celebrations.

But now we also have specific intelligence inputs that Kashmiri militants may hijack a plane. “We are frisking all passengers and random security checks are conducted even after boarding passes are issued,” he added.

The airports across India were put on high security alert on Nov 9 last year following an anonymous warning that Al Qaeda was targeting some airports in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.