Hijack threat leads to security beef-up at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai airports

A letter is in possession of the Mumbai police commissioner which allegedly talks of an impending terrorist plot or a hijack attempt. The anonymous letter also talked of someone hearing suspects talking about a plot to hijack a plane.

Following the receipt of the letter, three major airports in the country – Mumbai Chhtarapati Shivaji International airport, Chennai International Airport and the Rajiv Gandhi International airport, Hyderabad are now on high alert. Reports speak of a woman sending this letter in which she says, she overheard 6 boys discussing this plan of simultaneous attack on the airports.

There was also a threat received by the Mumbai airport of a bomb being placed there. Security measures have been beefed up and CISF jawans are now patrolling the airport premises and checking security arrangements inside and outside.

Special anti-sabotage sweeps are being undertaken at these airports since morning and security agencies, including the Central Industrial Security Force, have enhanced frisking of passengers, baggage scanning, pre-emabarkation checks and patrols in the vicinity of the airports, they said.

The CISF has called in its sniffer dog squads and quick reaction teams for undertaking sanitisation drills at the airports, they said, adding airlines have been asked to remain extra vigilant. "However, there is no reason to panic and all the operations at these airports will be normal and without any hassle to passengers," a senior officer who is part of airports security team said.

The police are probing the contents of the e-mail and trying to get in touch with the sender. A report by the Times of India detailed how Airport security agencies received a specific tip off about a hijack plan and that close to 23 people are said to be involved in the plan. Airport officials have warned that in view of the heightened security and to avoid long check-in lines, passengers should try and come earlier than usual.

While the authenticity of the letter and confirmation of the same is doubtful, police and investigative agencies are leaving no stone unturned to provide security.

Recently, a huge lapse in the coastal security was highlighted when a Russian couple managed to give the Navy and coast guard surveillance a slip and ended up at the Mumbai coast. Police were shocked to learn that they had reached India without being stopped before entering the Indian boundaries. This incident became a reminiscent of the Mumbai attack since at that time also, the terrorists from Pakistan entered India through the sea in Mumbai.

with PTI inputs

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• Mumbai airport
• Chennai Airport
• Hyderabad Airport
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• Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport