Reach BIA half hour before reporting time

Reach BIA half hour before reporting time


Express News Service
First Published : 05 Dec 2008 04:28:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 05 Dec 2008 04:37:12 AM IST

BANGALORE: In the wake of the Bangalore International Airport (BIA) being put on red alert after an e-mail terror threat, security agencies at the airport have decided to manually frisk passengers.

“In normal times, security checks and frisking are done mechanically, but when an airport is put on red alert, frisking is done manually,’’ Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials told to this website's newspaper.

This means, checking standards at the BIA have increased from the normal 20 per cent to 60 per cent, which allows manual frisking.

The CISF has its own commando teams, which have been placed at important locations in the airport and all vehicles are being frisked, something that has not been done before.

Similarly, trace detectors have been installed at departure and entry gates.

The additional security cover and frisking come in the wake of an e-mail from Deccan Mujahideen, threatening an attack on the Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore airports between December 3 and December 7.

BIA has been put on high alert following the Mumbai attacks and security has been beefed up now in view of the the 17th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6.

“Every year, a high alert is sounded at airports across the country in the first week of December. But, this year a red alert has been sounded,” added officials.

However, unlike Delhi and Chennai airports, where passengers have been asked to arrive at the airport three hours before their flight, in Bangalore, passengers have been asked to report half and hour ahead, as infrastructure facilities at Bangalore are better compared to the two other airports.