The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Pilferage at airport raises security questions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 26, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Pilferage at airport raises security questions

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Meeting to review internal security arrangements

Casual workers alleged to be behind thefts
Contract workers deployed by outsourcing agencies

Thiruvananthapuram: Increasing incidents of pilferage from the baggage and personal accessories of passengers arriving at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport have put security personnel on high alert.

Although pilferage from unaccompanied baggage is common at airports across the country, the rising incidents of theft of costly items from the cargo-hold area near the high security tarmac and airport terminal buildings have raised concern.

Recently, the mobile phone of the son of a Minister was reported missing at the international airport.

Thefts on the rise

Airport sources said incidents of theft of valuable items such as mobile phones and gold ornaments from hand baggage were on the increase.

Last week, a casual loader was caught stealing soaps from the baggage of a passenger who arrived at the airport.

Airline sources said the casual workers deployed by three outsourcing agencies for Air-India and Indian were involved in the thefts.

Over 150 workers are deployed by these three agencies for traffic duty and loading and unloading of baggage at the international airport.

Three loaders of a Gulf-based airline were recently caught for pilferage from the baggage loading area.

They were terminated from service and the police registered a case.

Airport sources said it was very easy for casual loaders to smuggle things out of the airport.

Many pay Rs.10,000 to Rs.50,000 to outsourcing agencies to get a job on contract at the airport. Airport sources said many causal loaders who were expelled from the airport for pilferage and indiscipline often regained their jobs by paying money to these outsourcing agencies.

No check of antecedents

Lack of a system to check the antecedents of those recruited comes handy for these youth.

Airport sources said the contract workers are barred from entering the security hold area of the airport and have to deposit the passes after duty hours.

Contract workers found entering the terminal building after duty hours are fined Rs.500. Many passengers do not complain out of sheer ignorance. The airlines do not bother to supervise the outsourcing agencies.

A top official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) told TheHindu that a meeting would be convened later this week to plug the loopholes and review the internal security arrangements at the airport.

The meeting would be attended by representatives of the airlines and law enforcing agencies.

The agencies have been told that contract workers caught for attempting pilferage would be handed over to the police.

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