Bala Chauhan for Deccan Herald
Bangalore, Jan 12: Following the terror alerts, security in and around the city's airport has been maximised. For the first time, all airline staff have been asked to politely question their customers, on “who packed your bag?” and “what is the content?”
The passengers have been requested to co-operate with the security staff and visitors are banned from entering the terminal.
Cabin baggage for women, who were till now allowed to carry two baggages, has been restricted to one from Thursday January 10 morning.
The ground staff has been sensitised about any suspicious movement and unidentified baggage.
“They have been asked to immediately alert the the terminal manager or the Central Security Industrial Force (CISF),” said a placed police source.
The city's airport security has been maximised following three inputs — two from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and one from the local police.
According to sources, a couple of days ago, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Bangalore and Central Security Industrial Force received a fresh input on a possible aircraft hijack following Afzal Guru’s conviction as the main accused in the Parliament attack case and the subsequent death sentence awarded to him.
“They were also tipped to beef up security for the Republic Day. Then they were alerted by the local police following LeT militant Imran’s arrest. During his interrogation, he reportedly revealed the names of three targets in the City — airport, Infosys and Wipro. He said these places can be attacked any time,” said the source.
Additional police force has been deployed inside and around the airport and all security measures have been accelerated. “We have not, however, banned liquid items in the luggage,” said an official source.
City Kashmiris under vigil
Following LeT suspect Imran’s arrest, the police have stepped up their vigil on the movements of certain people, especially Kashmiris in the City. On Thursday, the Kashmiri shopowners on Commercial Street received a letter dated January 9, from the jurisdictional police inspector asking them to report to the Commercial Street Police Station within two days with the list, address and other necessary details of their Kashmiri employees.