India augments security at all international airports following Mumbai attack

New Delhi, Dec 5 : Guidelines have been issued to all concerned agencies and airports to beef up the existing security for all international airports in the wake of terror attacks in Mumbai.

"On November 26, there was dastardly attack in Mumbai after which there was a nation wide alert. The Civil Aviation Ministry also has issued an alert for all the international airports. This is just further to augmenting the existing security arrangements by all the concerned agencies," said R.V.P. Sahi, Commissioner Bureau of Civil Aviation Security here last evening.

Officials said they have passed on directions to passengers who now would have to wait longer for security checks.

"Since the security checks are going to take a little more time, we have advised the airlines to tell the passengers to take enough time so that all formalities are properly covered," said Madhavan Nambiar, Secretary, Civil Aviation.

India declared a security alert at three major airports, including New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore on Thursday following warnings from intelligence agencies.

The high alert comes in the wake of intelligence inputs that militants of Pakistan or Afghanistan origin may strike these installations by this weekend ahead of the anniversary of demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

Top officials of Civil Aviation Ministry, Air Force, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) held a meeting here on Wednesday to review the preparedness of "different layers" of security apparatus and safety mechanism in major airports as well as in the airspace in the wake of intelligence inputs.

Defence Minister A.K Antony had reviewed the situation with service chiefs about possible air strike by the militants.

All the three defence services of India are reportedly working in coordination with the intelligence agencies to counter the threats following terror attacks in Mumbai that highlighted the lapses prevailing in the security system.

ANI