Security beefed up at city airport after terror threat

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 2

As Indian Air Force bases and airports in and around Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have been put on alert after inputs warned of a possible Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide attack, security was beefed up at Shri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport here on Wednesday.

According to sources, three-tier security arrangements have been made at the airport. The Punjab Police have installed special check-points on the airport road. Every vehicle heading towards the airport is being checked thoroughly.

Parvinder Kaur, Assistant Commissioner of Police, said, “We have beefed up security in the area under our jurisdiction. We have installed several check-points and security personnel are on patrol around the clock. The responsibility of internal security is with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). We have deployed a commando force and personnel of Special Operation Group (SOG).”

Though the airport authorities did not release any special instructions for passengers and visitors, it has been learnt that security checks have been consuming lots of time of passengers.

Baldev Singh, a passenger, said, “Passengers should leave for the airport on time, so they do not miss their flights.”

According to the sources, there are inputs from Central intelligence agencies about suicide attack threat at air bases and airports. In Punjab, the Pathankot airbase and the Amritsar airport are on orange alert.

Meanwhile, with the recovery of arms and ammunitions from the Indo-Pak border, the police are already on high alert to prevent any untoward incident.

Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, Commissioner of Police, said, “In view of the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A in Jammu and Kashmir, the police were already on alert. The check-points have been installed at every entry and exit point and officials directed to remain in the field.”