Kathmandu: Following a tip-off from India,
Nepal has beefed up security at its only international airport
taking anti-hijacking measures, but said it has received no
request so far on deploying sky marshals on Indian planes.
Police and Army have been ordered on a high alert and all
passengers are being thoroughly checked before boarding, Home
Ministry spokesman Jaya Mukunda?Khanal said.
Other stringent measures include making the passengers
and baggage go through x-ray machines and physical frisking by
security personnel.
The measures have been taken following warnings that
militants linked with Lashkar-e-Toiba and al Qaeda might
attempt hijacking of an Indian aeroplane bound to and coming
from other South Asian cities.
Pakistani militants had hijacked a Delhi-bound Indian
Airlines flight that left Kathmandu on December 24, 1999 to
demand release of hardcore militants imprisoned in India.
Security agencies have been ordered to be on high alert
and take special measures to avert any untoward incidents, the
spokesman said.
He, however, said that request has so far been received
from the government of India seeking deployment of air
marshals on Indian planes.
A media report today said India has asked Nepal to allow
air marshals on Indian planes following a hijacking threat.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 18:15