Security stepped up at airports

Sources said a spate of intelligence inputs and analysis has led to a sudden stepping up of security at various levels, especially for VVIP families at airports. Two key factors have prompted the present response. One, an alert from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to Indian authorities that terrorists may hijack passenger planes bound for US and Europe.
The hijack alert comes a few days after another letter received by the airport authorities in Tiruchirappalli.
The cabinet secretary on Monday chaired a high-level meeting of senior officials from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Intelligence Bureau and other agencies to take stock of the situation.
Sources said the government would keep a heightened vigil in the coming days, mostly because of intelligence analysis warning that Kashmiri terrorist groups could hijack a plane to demand release of militants, especially Mohammed Afzal, the Parliament attack accused sentenced to be hanged.
13/11/06 Josy Joseph/Daily News & Analysis

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