Indian Airports On High Alert With Hijack News

On Friday an Unknow caller called up on the toll-free number of an Airoli-based BPO claiming that an Air India flight will be hijacked. Senior Inspector Nitin Gite of Rabale MIDC police station said, “The call was received at Sutherland Global Services’ office around 9.45pm on Friday. Air India outsources its work to this BPO. The caller spoke in English and claimed that an Air India flight is going to be hijacked to Pakistan.”

The call prompted the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security to call for enhanced surveillance in and around airports and operational areas; deployment of quick reaction teams and intensive perimeter patrolling besides manning of all vehicle entry gates with strong-armed support.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also intensified profiling of passengers to screen any suspicious traveler. Dog squads and explosive trace detectors are being deployed at sensitive airports.

The CISF had tightened security at airports after the Pulwama terror attack, claimed by Pak based JeM. Airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Cochin, Nagpur, and Hyderabad have been particularly asked to be on a tight vigil.