Central Industrial Security Force trashes police proposals

A week after an explosive was allegedly placed in a Kingfisher airline flight traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Bangalore by an airport staff, officials at the Bengaluru international Airport (BIA) appear to have not done much to beef up security. Instead, the various agencies are only playing the blame game.

The Bangalore police claim that they have an outpost in the airport. Though they do not have police station close to the BIA, they say they have deployed extra staff for patrolling the area.

Deputy police commissioner (north-east) Basavaraj Malgatti said the police would further analyse security before suggesting measures. “However, let them first implement the earlier suggested measures,” Malgatti said.

A police official had earlier said that the BIA was a free for all as officials did not heed to the police advise to check the antecedents of over 300 private workers employed at the airport. He said several important functions were outsourced to private players, but there were no systematic checks on their backgrounds. The police had also suggested that ground staff across airlines also be put through a background verification by the police.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) agreed on the background verification, but said this responsibility rested with the hiring authorities. “We are awaiting the final investigation report from Thiruvananthapuram, after which we will make security decisions. In terms of checking ground staff and crew members, the airline security plays a role here. Every agency has to understand that airline officials should supervise their employees. If they are suspicious of an employee, they can take our assistance,” CISF commandant at BIA, DK Singh, said.

When asked if the CISF would check passengers from the road leading to the airport, Singh said it was practically impossible. “The idea of a checkpoint at the road leading to BIA will result in a long queue. It is not practical as improvised explosive devices can be planted at those entrances also. We have beefed up security with stringent baggage checks, and we are checking every vehicle,’’ Singh said.

Currently, there are 1,000 CISF Quick Reaction Team commandos deployed at BIA. CISF men are also deployed in mufti in the airport’s parking lot.