SANGAM

TIA on high alert after al-Qaeda threat to India planes

SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JAN 22 - Security at Tribhuvan International Airport has been beefed up to foil any possible security risks after the Indian government sensitised all Air India planes operating to and from India's neighbouring countries.


The Indian government move followed 'intelligence inputs that terrorist groups with allegiance to al-Qaeda, Lashker-e-Toiba and Jamat-ul-Dawa were planning to hijack an Air India plane, especially operating to or from SAARC countries.

"We are on high alert in view of a possible hijack plot," said Keshav Raj Khanal, Director General at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

The Home Ministry, however, said there was no formal notice issued in this regard. "We have taken the issue seriously in order to avert any untoward incident," said Jay Mukunda Khanal, the Home Ministry spokesman.

India has increased security at its airports and warned its domestic airlines about a possible hijack attempt by Islamic militant groups following Western intelligence reports, according to Indian officials.

The alert to India's civil aviation ministry warned that flights of state-run Air India and other private carriers could be targeted.

In December 1999, Islamic militants had hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 from Kathmandu to Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. It ended when New Delhi released four Islamic militants in exchange for 167 passengers and crew.