BCAS issues circular to strengthen security at airports ahead of polls

New Delhi [India], Mar 15 (ANI): The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Friday issued a detailed Circular with an aim to curb the movement of unauthorized arms, contraband goods and cash at the airports, in the wake of the announcement of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the ensuing General Elections.
The Bureau has given specific instructions to be followed by the Airport authorities and other government officials. Officers of BCAS will be conducting surprise inspections of these airports to check the compliance of these instructions.
Apart from strengthening the security at the regular commercial airports, BCAS has directed the airport authorities to check flights from uncontrolled, remote and unserved private and public airstrips, helipads and waterdromes.
It has also directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air Traffic Control (ATC) to inform State Police, BCAS and Income Tax Department about such flights in advance.
ATC has been specifically directed to share records of the travel plan of chartered aircrafts or helicopters half an hour in advance to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State and the DEO of the district, in which the airport is located.
As per direction of the Election Commission, Director General of Police (DGPs) of States have been ordered to deploy police units to check these flights during Code of Conduct.
The operators of all private aircrafts or helicopters have been asked to declare the contents of the baggage, suitcases carried on these flights to CEO of the states, DEOs of the districts, state police and IT Department.
With an aim to keep strict vigil over movement of cash through all airports, Income Tax Department and CISF have been extended with all requisite cooperation for checking and surveillance activities. (ANI)