CISF enhances security at all airports after Chennai blasts

The Central Industrial Security Force on Thursday issued alert across all domestic and international airports in the country to step up security at these facilities in the wake of the Chennai blasts.

The CISF headquarters in New Delhi issued orders asking all Airport Security Groups at 59 airports to tighten access-control, enhance quick reaction teams and undertake multiple screening of suspect passengers.

"We have alerted all the airport units that we are securing in the country in the wake of the blasts. The orders are clear that the vigil should be maximum without any hassle to genuine passengers," Chief of CISF Airport Security O P Singh told PTI.

Singh, who is in the rank of Additional Director General, said the anti-sabotage teams deployed at all the large and small airports have been asked to conduct surprise drills in and around the 'air side' and 'terminal side' of these facilities even as the intelligence wing of the force has been asked to keep a check on suspect passengers and people moving around the area.

The CISF is the mandated security force that secures 59 civil airports in the country. Officials said the vigil has been heightened to thwart any disruptive activity at these facilities which see lakhs of people travelling everyday to destinations in India and abroad.

The security agency has also asked its troops to undertake the 'secondary point ladder checking' in case of a suspicious activity or passenger. This frisking is done after a passenger crosses the initial security checking and is just about to board the aircraft.

Two minor-intensity bombs rocked the Guwahati-Bangalore Express at the Chennai Central Railway station early this morning claiming a woman's life and leaving 13 others injured.