Int' airport put on high security alert

Authorities in Nepal have put Tribhuvan International Airport on high security alert to thwart possible attempt of airplane hijack.

The move comes a day after India increased its airport security following a tip-off from western intelligence service that flights of state-run Air India and private carriers were targeted by Islamist groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda or the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group.

Officials at Tribhuvan International Airport said the security measures were increased in view of possible hijack attempts. They said additional security personnel have been deployed besides beefing up vigilance at the only international airport in the country.

Deputy Spokesperson at Home Ministry Eak Mani Nepal said, “These are precautionary measures to avoid any unpleasant incident.”

The alert received by India said the terrorists were planning to hijack flights from India or originating in countries neighboring India -- Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar or Sri Lanka.

Officials said the security measures aim at ensuring that no such incident could take place from Nepali soil.

Islamic rebels had seized an Indian Airlines plane traveling from Nepal to New Delhi and forced it to land in the then-Taliban stronghold of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan on Christmas Eve in 1999. The rebels had stabbed a passenger to death before New Delhi could agree to release four Islamic militants in exchange for the 167 passengers and crew.

- Asian Tribune -