Senior IPS officer Mr. Amrit Mohan Prasad, who currently serves as the Director-General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), has been given the additional responsibility of Chief of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). This appointment comes after the retirement of the former DG, IPS Zulfiqar Hasan, a 1988-batch officer from the West Bengal cadre, on October 31st.
Mr. Amrit Mohan Prasad, a 1989-batch IPS officer from the Odisha cadre, previously held the position of Special Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Aviation industry insiders are urging for a timely appointment of a full-time BCAS chief, especially in light of a series of hoax threats that have emerged since early October.
These threats have significantly impacted hundreds of flights operated by Indian carriers. While authorities have managed to minimise diversions, flight delays related to these threats are disrupting airlines’ schedules. Each hoax message necessitates thorough inspections of the aircraft, leading to further delays.
The government is implementing a multi-faceted strategy to address this ongoing issue. A permanent BCAS chief has not yet been appointed. Prasad will serve in the interim as per sources.
