Heightened Security Measures at Biju Patnaik International Airport Amid Khalistani Threat | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Following Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun‘s threat to disrupt the all-India DGP/IGP conference in the city, Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) activated a second layer of security check for passengers on Saturday.
The secondary ladder point check (SLPC) is activated in emergency situations and on special occasions like Independence Day and Republic Day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah are in the city to attend the DGP/IGP conference and are scheduled to fly back on Sunday. Airport officials said minutes before passengers board the aircraft, their bags are scanned, and they are frisked, which is not done on normal days. Normally, after the primary security check by CISF personnel before passengers proceed to the departure lounge, no further checking is done.
After Pannun’s threat mail to some city-based journalists mentioned ‘D-Day at the airport on Sunday’, security has been increased following an airport security committee meeting on Saturday afternoon. Pannun, in an email and an audio message, asked people not to come to the airport on Sunday to board flights.
“We have activated SLPC, which will remain in force till Dec 3, considering the VVIP movement and the purported threat mail. Extra CISF personnel have been deployed at the departure lounge for a second layer of frisking,” said airport director Prasanna Pradhan.
At Saturday’s meeting, representatives from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airports Authority of India (AAI), BPIA officials and airlines discussed security augmentation. Without disclosing details about the deployment, airport officials said CISF personnel are deployed in lounges, operational areas and the city-side area.
Away from the airport, city police and paramilitary personnel are also monitoring the movement of suspicious elements. “Airport and its periphery areas are extremely important to keep under surveillance for three days,” Pradhan added.
Security at the airport was increased in June when PM Modi, home minister BJP, and a group of top BJP members and CMs of at least 10 states arrived to attend the swearing-in of the council of ministers of the Mohan Majhi govt in the state.
The airport will witness further activity on Dec 3 and 4 as President Droupadi Murmu will arrive to attend the Navy Day function in Puri. She will travel to Bhubaneswar on Dec 3, from where she and her entourage will fly in four helicopters. The special presidential plane will remain parked in the city.
The secondary ladder point check (SLPC) is activated in emergency situations and on special occasions like Independence Day and Republic Day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah are in the city to attend the DGP/IGP conference and are scheduled to fly back on Sunday. Airport officials said minutes before passengers board the aircraft, their bags are scanned, and they are frisked, which is not done on normal days. Normally, after the primary security check by CISF personnel before passengers proceed to the departure lounge, no further checking is done.
After Pannun’s threat mail to some city-based journalists mentioned ‘D-Day at the airport on Sunday’, security has been increased following an airport security committee meeting on Saturday afternoon. Pannun, in an email and an audio message, asked people not to come to the airport on Sunday to board flights.
“We have activated SLPC, which will remain in force till Dec 3, considering the VVIP movement and the purported threat mail. Extra CISF personnel have been deployed at the departure lounge for a second layer of frisking,” said airport director Prasanna Pradhan.
At Saturday’s meeting, representatives from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airports Authority of India (AAI), BPIA officials and airlines discussed security augmentation. Without disclosing details about the deployment, airport officials said CISF personnel are deployed in lounges, operational areas and the city-side area.
Away from the airport, city police and paramilitary personnel are also monitoring the movement of suspicious elements. “Airport and its periphery areas are extremely important to keep under surveillance for three days,” Pradhan added.
Security at the airport was increased in June when PM Modi, home minister BJP, and a group of top BJP members and CMs of at least 10 states arrived to attend the swearing-in of the council of ministers of the Mohan Majhi govt in the state.
The airport will witness further activity on Dec 3 and 4 as President Droupadi Murmu will arrive to attend the Navy Day function in Puri. She will travel to Bhubaneswar on Dec 3, from where she and her entourage will fly in four helicopters. The special presidential plane will remain parked in the city.
