ID :
34151
Fri, 12/05/2008 - 20:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/34151
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Gun shot scare; Intl airport security further tightened
New Delhi, Dec 5 (PTI) Reported hearing of gun shots in the wee hours Friday created a scare at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here after which security was further tightened while normal functioning of the airport was disrupted for some time.
Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), armed with sophisticated weapons, swung into action along with Delhi Police personnel immediately after the reported incident.
"Sounds were heard by our people deployed at the city side (of the airport) which appeared to them as gun shots," said Udhayan Banerjee, DIG, CISF, which provides airport security.
The firing of two gun shots was heard at around 1.15 am near gate no 4, but there was no eyewitness and no cartridge shells were found. The functioning of the airport was disrupted for about 40 minutes.
Adding to the drama, a white Qualis car, during the intensive checking drive, jumped the queue and sped away. A police Gypsy gave a chase to the Qualis with a Haryana number plate but lost it after some time.
Asked whether the registration number of the car had been noted, Banerjee said, "We are not really sure about the number plate but I was told it was an HR (Haryana) registered vehicle." Delhi and Haryana police forces are on the look out for the white vehicle.
The airport was already on alert following intelligence
warning that there could be a terror attack or a hijack around
the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition which falls
tomorrow.
The area outside departure terminal was completely
cordoned off with CISF and Delhi Police commandos, toting
AK-47 and INSAS rifles, taking control of the entire premises.
"We received a call that some passengers heard sounds
similar to two gunshots, but there were no eyewitnesses. No
evidence has so far come up to suggest that it was a (case of)
firing and we cannot confirm there were gunshots," Banerjee
said. No bullet mark was found during the combing operation.
Delhi Police Joint Commissioner (Operations) Amulya
Patnaik said, "all arrangements are in place and things are
under control".
Movement at the airport, including the flight
operations, was put on hold for about 40 minutes, police said,
adding normal operations were resumed there after.
According to initial reports, the entire incident could
have been a part of the mock drill to check the security
preparedness at the airport.
Airports across the country have been put on high
alert in the wake of intelligence reports that terrorists from
Pakistan or Afghanistan may strike using a hijacked aircraft
even as the Indian Air Force has said it was ready to counter
a 9/11-type aerial attack on New York. PTI
Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), armed with sophisticated weapons, swung into action along with Delhi Police personnel immediately after the reported incident.
"Sounds were heard by our people deployed at the city side (of the airport) which appeared to them as gun shots," said Udhayan Banerjee, DIG, CISF, which provides airport security.
The firing of two gun shots was heard at around 1.15 am near gate no 4, but there was no eyewitness and no cartridge shells were found. The functioning of the airport was disrupted for about 40 minutes.
Adding to the drama, a white Qualis car, during the intensive checking drive, jumped the queue and sped away. A police Gypsy gave a chase to the Qualis with a Haryana number plate but lost it after some time.
Asked whether the registration number of the car had been noted, Banerjee said, "We are not really sure about the number plate but I was told it was an HR (Haryana) registered vehicle." Delhi and Haryana police forces are on the look out for the white vehicle.
The airport was already on alert following intelligence
warning that there could be a terror attack or a hijack around
the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition which falls
tomorrow.
The area outside departure terminal was completely
cordoned off with CISF and Delhi Police commandos, toting
AK-47 and INSAS rifles, taking control of the entire premises.
"We received a call that some passengers heard sounds
similar to two gunshots, but there were no eyewitnesses. No
evidence has so far come up to suggest that it was a (case of)
firing and we cannot confirm there were gunshots," Banerjee
said. No bullet mark was found during the combing operation.
Delhi Police Joint Commissioner (Operations) Amulya
Patnaik said, "all arrangements are in place and things are
under control".
Movement at the airport, including the flight
operations, was put on hold for about 40 minutes, police said,
adding normal operations were resumed there after.
According to initial reports, the entire incident could
have been a part of the mock drill to check the security
preparedness at the airport.
Airports across the country have been put on high
alert in the wake of intelligence reports that terrorists from
Pakistan or Afghanistan may strike using a hijacked aircraft
even as the Indian Air Force has said it was ready to counter
a 9/11-type aerial attack on New York. PTI
