Indian airports on high alert after hijack warning

New Delhi: The Indian government has asked airports around the country to adopt "heightened security measures" after an intelligence tip off that the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) may attempt to hijack an aircraft to free their colleagues from jails.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has alerted airports in the four metros, the northeast, as well as in Hyderabad, Bangalore and some international airports like in Amritsar as potential targets ahead of Republic Day.
The threat from any other terrorist outfit also cannot be ruled out, said a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official.
According to a BCAS official, the Ulfa hijack attempt could likely be in the northeast.
"The Ulfa is prepared for this daring act to draw the attention of the international community," said a senior official in the union home ministry.
"As the Ulfa has not acted so far, they could well do it even now. They haven't given up. They may be looking for a suitable moment to strike," said a senior BCAS official.
Over 600 Ulfa militants are in jails around the country. A few of them were "masterminds" arrested during the raid on their camps by the Bhutan government in 2002.
19/01/08 Sanjay Singh/IANS/KalingaTimes

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Categories: Airports Jan 2008, Safety Jan 2008