The police said that a lack of systematic security checks on private firm staff employed at the airport posed a threat to passengers and others. Several functions of the airport were outsourced to private players.
The airport authorities’ alleged lackadaisical approach to security came in for criticism from Bangalore’s senior police officers on Monday. They also alleged that the airport was yet to intensify the security checks even a day after a crude bomb was found aboard an aircraft.
The police said that a lack of systematic security checks on private firm staff employed at the airport posed a threat to passengers and others. Several functions of the airport were outsourced to private players.
“As many as 300 workers are employed inside the airport. Nobody has asked us to verify their antecedents. It is free for all in the airport, even at high-security areas,” a police officer said.
The police claimed that deputy commissioner of police (north-east) Basavaraj Y Malagatti had written to the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) authorities a year ago to get the antecedents of all employees - both temporary and permanent - verified. “I had reminded them several times, but to no avail,” Malagatti said.
He claimed to have advised the BIA against employing anyone with non-verified backgrounds. “This also did not get any response,” the officer said.
Police officers felt that the security checks on baggage inside the airport were poor. “Even a day after an explosive substance was detected in a Kingfisher airliner, things have not changed much at the airport. They are continuing their work with utmost disregard to security, risking the lives of scores of passengers,” another officer said.
The police also pointed out that anyone can load or unload cargo onto the aircraft without supervision.
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