New Delhi:

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Monday said it has “learnt its lessons” following incidents of a spate of hoax messages being sent to Indian airlines recently and the situation has improved after the assessment protocol for such calls was revised.

Several domestic carriers, between October and November, received hundreds of “hoax” messages or calls on their official communication channels including on social media claiming bombs being placed or a hijacker onboard leading to numerous diversions and delays for passengers in specific and the entire aviation ecosystem in general.

“There were a very large number of hoax calls recently (to the airlines)…but we have learnt our lessons. The Government of India rules were revised regarding the requirements for convening the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) meetings.

“The basic revision done was that the BTAC can meet online or in a digital mode hence cutting down the time to convene such a meeting. The situation has improved considerably after this…,” CISF Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Shrikant Kishore told reporters here.

PTI had in October reported that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under the Union civil aviation ministry has tweaked BTAC procedures in the wake of the messages being sent over the social media daily by adopting a “multi-layered” approach to assess threats and determine their “credibility and seriousness.” According to the new guidelines, upon receipt of a bomb threat, the BTAC can be convened over a internet-based secure platform but this is only an “interim” arrangement till the members of the committee assemble physically at the designated control room.

Asked about the issue of congestion at several airports in the country during the vacations, Kishore said the force and other agencies involved in civil airport operations were “at a better position now” as they saw “improvement and enhancement” in security infrastructure and manpower.

The force provides counter-terrorist security cover to 68 civil airports of the country and has deployed about 48,000 personnel for this task out of its total manpower of about 1.7 lakh men and women.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Top officers of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards airports and Parliament, reached Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital this morning for a recce. The paramilitary force has been tasked with taking over security arrangements at the state-run hospital after a shocking incident of vandalism in the aftermath of a 31-year-old doctor’s rape and murder that has shaken the nation.

Senior CISF officer K Pratap Singh, who visited the hospital this morning, told the media, “Let us do our job. We have come here for some assignment. Let us finish our work, then senior officers will brief you. I am doing my job mandated by higher authorities.”

The central force’s recce comes after the Supreme Court yesterday questioned the city police’s response when a mob stormed the hospital in the early hours of August 15 and damaged medical equipment and supplies on two floors. The mob violence took place during a ‘reclaim the night’ protest in Kolkata and several other cities to seek justice for the doctor.

“We are unable to comprehend how the State was not prepared to deal with the incident of vandalization of the premises of the hospital,” the Supreme Court said yesterday.

The court noted that a majority of doctors of the hospital have left the campus after the August 15 mob violence. It is necessary to create a safe environment so that doctors can return and treat patients. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta then assured the court that central forces will guard the premises. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for West Bengal government, said he has no objection.

At the hospital, a huge protest is on to demand justice for the victim of the horrifying rape-murder. 

Ex Principal’s Day 6 Of Questioning

Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College, reached the CBI’s office in Kolkata this morning for the sixth round of questioning in connection with the investigation into the heinous crime. Mr Ghosh, whose handling of the situation after the doctor’s body was found at a seminar hall on August 9 has come under the scanner, refused to answer questions from the media.

Over the past five days, Sandip Ghosh has been questioned for a total of 64 hours, according to CBI officials.

Separately, the Bengal government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of financial irregularities during Sandip Ghosh’s tenure as principal of the state-run institution.

3 Officers Suspended Over Vandalism

Left red-faced after the top court’s remarks on police response during the mob attack, the Bengal government has now suspended three officers in connection with the incident of vandalism.

The suspended cops include two Assistant Police Commissioners, sources have told news agency PTI. “Three officers have been suspended… Two are Assistant Police Commissioners and one is an inspector,” an official said, adding that further investigation into the matter is underway.

Doctors Still Live In Fear

News agency AFP spoke to the women doctors protesting at the hospital. One of them was on night duty, like the victim, just two days before the incident. “I was on night duty just two days before this incident,” she said. “What she did is what any of us do — resting whenever, wherever we can.”

The doctor said conditions such as long working hours — with barely any time to eat or rest — were not unusual for the medicos working at the state-run hospital. “This could have been any of us, and this still can be any of us,” she added.