CISF steps up individual profiling of passengers

Mumbai: As airports and airlines become a choice target of terrorism, stringent security measures have been put up at the country’s airports and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has stepped up individual profiling of passengers.
“The airport has been on a high alert ever since the Terror attacks took place and therefore operational measures are in place, but we have also stepped up profiling of individual passengers inside the terminal area as an additional measure,” said a CISF officer at the Mumbai airport.
However, aviation security experts say the real threat comes from the country’s smaller airports — about 80 in all. “Really speaking, if security is foolproof you don’t have to worry, but the list of people who are exempt from security checks at airports is disturbing,” said air safety expert Captain A. Rangnathan. “Whenever there is a threat perception, they only check the bigger airports,” he said.
Officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry said the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) circular, warning of a possible fidayeen attack, was a routine advisory.
“As far as individual profiling is concerned, more often we act on our gut feelings, after looking at the appearance of a particular person,” said a CISF official.
Sanjay Prakash, senior commandant, CISF, Mumbai airport, said, “the threat perception is there, but our operating procedures remain the same. It is the level of alertness that has to go up.”
03/04/09 Shashank Shekhar/Indian Express

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Categories: Airports Apr 2009, Safety Apr 2009