After sea, aerial threat looming over India

After the intelligence inputs that terrorists could strike India through aerial route by this weakened, security has been beefed up at all major airports in the country, including Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

The Indian Air Force has been asked to step up the vigil to thwart any terror attempt from air in the wake of Mumbai terror attack executed through sea route.

The threat has been taking seriously this time for two reasons: first, the nation paying price for the alleged negligence on the part of security agencies and government resulted into the brazen Mumbai terror strikes on Nov 26 that killed at least 183 innocent people; secondly, the weekend marks the 15th anniversary of demolition of the disputed structure, Babri Mosque, in Ayodhya on December 06, 1992.

Taking into account both the bare facts, security apparatus has been asked to be on high alert across Uttar Pradesh and major airports in Metro cities.

‘Terrorists planning to carry out a 9/11-type aerial attack on targets in India,’ Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major told reporters Thursday in New Delhi, and added we are prepared to tackle any such possibilities as usual.

The security alert came a day after top officials of Civil Aviation Ministry, Air Force, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and DGCA held a meeting with Defence Minister A K Antony in New Delhi on Wednesday to review the preparedness of different layers of security apparatus and safety mechanism against any possible terror strike from air.

In the meeting three service chiefs – Admiral Sureesh Mehta, General Deepak Kapoor and Air Chief Marshal Fali H. Major and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh were also present.

Anti-sabotage team were deployed after soon after the meeting, F H Major said.

The defence minister reviewed the details of the preparedness against any possible terror strike from air, and the situation along the Line of Control (LoC), including measures to prevent infiltration of terrorists.

Officials said that Antony called for greater synergy among defence forces and internal security agencies to make the intelligence inputs actionable.