For CISF cover, report on J&K airports under final scrutiny

New Delhi, January 18

The audit report of the highly sensitive Jammu, Srinagar and Leh airports is under final scrutiny of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) that will send its endorsement “very soon” to the Union Home Ministry to hand over the security responsibility of these airports to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) from the Central Reserve Police Force.

It is, however, yet to be decided whether the CISF would provide security cover in both inner and outer circles of these airports. The strength of security personnel to be deployed on these airports has also not been decided as yet.

Sources in the BCAS said the possibility was that the “core area” or inner security would be given to the CISF while the CRPF, which has been providing the overall security cover to these airports since 1990, would secure only the outer circle.

“The BCAS scrutiny of the audit report is in the final mode. It will soon send its endorsement to the Home Ministry which will take the final call whether the CISF will provide the inner and outer security both or CRPF will continue its role in the outer circle of Jammu, Srinagar and Leh airports,” a ministry official said, requesting anonymity.

“The number of CISF personnel to be deployed on each of the three airports will be decided later as per the Home Ministry’s approval.” The Home Ministry last November had decided to hand over the security of these airports to the CISF from the CRPF on the “same terms and conditions” which are in force for deployment of the CISF at other airports.

The move was intended to bring uniformity across the Indian aviation sector.

Of the 101 operational airports in India, the CISF is deployed in 61 airports. With the addition of the three airports, the number of CISF-guarded airports will go up to 64. The audit report was prepared by a joint team of the CISF, Airport Authority of India and the BCAS. — IANS