The Centre has asked the states to strengthen airport security — especially in terms of checking airport bound vehicles and on approach roads — to prevent attacks of the kind witnessed in Istanbul and Brussels airports recently. Aviation Minister AG Raju wrote to the states, saying “Airports have become a valued target for the terror groups as it gathers attention all over and creates adverse psychological impact in the minds of our citizenry.”
“Security agencies have to gear up to the changing patterns of the method of attack” referring to the attacks at European airports where passenger terminals were targeted. “(The) city side of the airports emerging as the most vulnerable,” Raju’s letter says. Clearly, attacks at airports are now the new worry even as security agencies have to constantly take steps to prevent hijackings.
The minister has asked the states to take warnings from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) seriously and implement the steps suggested. BCAS had issued an advisory to all states on June 29 and Raju has reiterated that it is the responsibility of the latter to implement them. This possibly indicates that some states are yet to do the needful. “The minister’s focus in the letter to the states is on curb side security. Recent attacks at European airports have seen terminals being targetted. Therefore, there has to be adequate checking of vehicles and people headed to airports,” said a senior ministry official.
