Aero India 2017: Man detained with 9 SIMS at Yelahanka air base let off

The preparations for the much awaited Aero India Show at Yelahanka Air Station had begun close to six months in advance, say Indian Air Force (IAF) officials. After all, it is an extremely prestigious event for the defence and Indian Air Force. This will be the 11th International Show on Aerospace, Defense, Civil Aviation, Airport Infrastructure and Defense Engineering.

Aero India 2017 has already run into some security hassles with IAF officials detaining a man from Uttar Pradesh for moving around suspiciously in the Air Force Base, ahead of the show next week. A search of the detainee revealed that his mobile phone had several photos of the restricted areas of the air base and he was also carrying around close to nine SIM cards with him. His phone records state, he was trying to contact someone in Saudi Arabia. Mamnoon had been booked for criminal trespass; he was inside the air base as part of a group of labourers permitted to work inside. However, later on Monday night, the City Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said the man was being released after interrogation as they found no terror links.

The news, mentioned in the Bangalore Mirror, details the detention. 24-year-old Mamnoon from Bulandshahr in UP, who has been working as a welder at the AFSY had been detained by the officials. Investigation is on regarding his contacts and Mamoon’s movements inside the air base. Also the police will be going through the procedure with which he gained access to the base, his local connections etc. to get to the bottom of his presence at the Show. Details on the reason behind his turning up in a prohibited area in the night and the number of days he has been working inside the air base is also being sourced, a police official said.

According to Matrubhumi, security measures have been scaled up this time. Post-Pathankot terror strike last year, the claims of terrorists roaming around in civilian guise has led to the heightening of security across all air bases. A defense official has said how apart from the three-tier security arrangements they will also be having some additional plans in place. The IAF, CISF, Guard Commandos and Army Commandos and additional forces will be roped in for the security of the show and the visitors.

Among other security details, the Intelligence Bureau teams have already begun the surveillance of areas in and around AFS Yelahanka. Recent settlers in the vicinity, details of occupants in hi-rise buildings have also been run through. AFS Yelahanka will see 250 cameras being installed covering the entire peripheral walls. This is in addition to the 250 cameras which monitored every nook and corner of the base in 2015.

The 11th Aero India show 2017 will commence under the shadow of the threat of retaliation for the surgical strikes conducted by India on Pakistan last year. Other concerns like prevention of another URI style attack and also the presence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of the event has led to the beefing up of security arrangements. 

• aero India show
• Aero India 2017
• Yelahanka air base
• HAL
• Bengaluru Air Show
• security arrangements Aero Show
• Narendra Modi