CISF reviews airport security after double breach
By IANSSunday, March 28, 2010
NEW DELHI - A day after two incidents of security breach took place within a span of 18 hours at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Sunday began a review of the security of Delhi’s air terminal to plug the loopholes.
“We are now reviewing the airport security after the incidents. Special Director (aviation) M.S. Bali and other senior officers are carrying out inspections to identify loopholes in the security system. We will then take appropriate measures to plug all the loopholes,” CISF sources told IANS.
“A high level inquiry is already under way to probe both the incidents,” the sources added.
According to sources, airport security remains vulnerable till the perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS) - which would prevent intrusion of unauthorized personnel into secure areas such as airports, maximum-security detention centres, nuclear facilities and others - is installed along the airport’s outer periphery walls.
“We are hopeful that the system will be in place by April end,” the sources said.
The second breach in the airport’s security was reported late Saturday, when a 65-year-old man, desperate to go on the Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, jumped the emergency gates.
“The man, identified as Fazal Mohammed from Haryana’s Nuh district, jumped emergency gate no.5 of the IGI airport near Dwarka at around 10 p.m. Saturday. He was immediately caught by the guards and CISF personnel,” CISF spokesperson Rohit Katiyar told IANS.
Mohammed told the guards that he had no money and was desperate to go to Saudi Arabia on a Haj pilgrimage.
He was handed over to the airport police, the spokesperson said.
Earlier Saturday, Uday Raj Chauhan, 28, was nabbed by the CISF in the Air India parking area after he illegally entered the domestic terminal at 4.30 a.m. He wanted to go to Dubai.
“Chauhan had managed to jump into the technical area from a tree and breached the funnel area. He reached the apron area to board an Air India aircraft to Dubai. That’s where he was caught,” Katiyar said.
Last month, a man in an inebriated condition sneaked into the airport and slept on the runway.
