Security stepped up at airport, Secretariat

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, OCT. 4. A seven-member high-level committee of the Government of India will arrive in Hyderabad in a couple of days to assess the security arrangements at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Security has already been stepped up at the airport following terrorist attacks in New York.

The committee would look into the issues of airport land encroachment, increasing the height of airport's compound wall and other security related aspects. The committee comprises officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Intelligence Bureau and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Mr. M.D. Saxena, Commandant, Hyderabad Airport, told The Hindu that a six-member Quick Reaction Team (QRT) was deployed at the airport in addition to the existing mobile security teams. The QRT services would be available round the clock. Strict vigilance was being maintained in the airport premises by enhancing both foot and mobile security at all strategic positions like the parking place of aeroplanes.

Except for the arrest of two persons, who were found loitering in the airport under suspicious circumstances four days ago, no untoward incident had occurred in the airport in the recent past. It was found that the two entered the airport premises by jumping the compound wall ``out of curiosity'' and were handed over to the Begumpet police.

Recently, the State Police Department had arranged 14 wireless sets for the CISF personnel at the airport. Other requirements for supervising the security operations would be examined during the high-level Committee visit, Mr. Saxena said. The Alliance Mumbai-Delhi flight hijack drama on Wednesday had forced the 380- strong CISF team to be more vigilant, he observed.

Meanwhile, security was further tightened at the Secretariat in view of the Fidayeen attack on Srinagar secretariat. The City Police Commissioner, Mr. P. Ramulu, announced that video-cameras would be installed and control rooms set up at both Secretariat and the Assembly buildings. These steps were being initiated as some loopholes in the security arrangements were noticed during an inspection visit by the Commissioner on Wednesday.

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Section  : Southern States
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