There is a need to leverage technology and increase manpower to improve safety in view of the increased security risks at airports, according to the AP Air Travellers Association (APATA).
The Union Home Ministry has noted that our airports are not equipped to handle major terror attacks in view of the grave threats posed by terrorists to international airports. APATA vice president O. Naresh Kumar noted in a statement that manpower should be increased and given specialised training for surveillance.
These personnel should be trained in Israel in counter-terror operations as our CRPF and CISF are not equipped to handle international terror activities. Every city and airport should have a special force with this training.
They should be provided the latest gadgets like nigh vision cameras and high-end scanners.
Facial recognition cameras should be installed at all airports and to enable instant online verification with the database of available criminals.
The APATA vice president suggested that every ticket sold should be having either the Aadhar card or passport number along with photo id proof.
This will enable verification of all tickets with the known database of criminals by the special police even before the arrival of the passenger at the airport.
A Department of Preventive crime should be set up with a team of officers with access to the database of all known criminals.
The details of both incoming and outgoing passengers should be matched with the updated database of all 29 states and union territories and also the Interpol data base and also with the latest terror input of union home ministry.
In addition to this the Department of Preventive Crime should have a database of people who are likely to cause harm even though they may not have a single case registered against them as on date.
This can be done by understanding where they can get support from and people who can fund or assist terrorism.
There should also be database of people having access to easy money/black money, real estate mafia, drug dealers, red sandalwood smugglers and the list of most corrupt bureaucrats and politicians, who have access to unaccounted cash. This list would help the RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and IB (Information Bureau) along with the specialised police teams in countering terrorisms.
