Nepal puts international airport on high alert following hijack threat

Following a tip-off from India, Nepal has beefed up security at its only international airport taking anti-hijacking measures, but said it has received no request so far on deploying sky marshals on Indian planes.

Police and Army have been ordered on a high alert and all passengers are being thoroughly checked before boarding, home ministry spokesman Jaya Mukunda Khanal said.

Other stringent measures include making the passengers and baggage go through x-ray machines and physical frisking by security personnel.

The measures have been taken following warnings that militants linked with Lashkar-e-Taiba and al Qaida might attempt hijacking of an Indian aeroplane bound to and coming from other South Asian cities.

Pakistani militants had hijacked a Delhi-bound Indian Airlines flight that left Kathmandu on December 24, 1999 to demand release of hardcore militants imprisoned in India.

Security agencies have been ordered to be on high alert and take special measures to avert any untoward incidents, the spokesman said.