Aviation security force takes over 4 airports

The security officials posted at the airports have been given specialised training, including detection of sophisticated explosives which could be concealed in ingenious devices such as lipstick tubes.

V Aivalli, Commissioner, BCAS, confirmed while speaking to The Indian Express that the ASF would take over security duty in all airports across the country. “We have already started, and after ironing out the glitches, will be handing over the international airports to the ASF in the next phase. Since security posted at airports require special training which is not really a part of regular police duty, this had to be done primarily in the wake of the worsening security environment after the hijack,” he said.

To make sure no vested interests develop in the sensitive airport security duty, all ASF officials will have a fixed tenure of three to five years at the 60 operational airports across the country. The plan clearly states that under no circumstance will the airport tenure be extended for any official. Aivalli says this is important to ensure there is no compromise on security.

The selected CISF officials are undergoing training in sensitisation and detection in the bureau headquarters in New Delhi. Emphasis is being laid on courteous but firm handling of passengers to make sure no weapons and explosives get through. Some changes include making sure that the officials scanning the X-ray machines do not spend more than 20 minutes in front of the machines since this is the maximum time permitted medically.

Before ASF’s creation, security at all airports was being handled by local police forces. After the IA flight hijacking, the BCAS recommended that the task be handed over to a new force. This also formed part the new policy of civil aviation.

Besides posting the ASF, there has been an overall upgradation in security of airports across the country with the BCAS carrying out dummy hijacks across four airports in the country, including the one at Bangalore recently.