india braces for attacks with hijacked planes
India has put major airports on high alert after warning of possible use of hijacked aircraft for attacks.
A week before emergency measures were taken, India said Islamist militants from Pakistan had launched a joint operation.
MUMBAI, India\'s economic center, suffered a series of attacks, killing nearly 200 people.
Officials said the alarm sounded Thursday as defense secretary AK Antony ordered the armed forces to be alert for \"any terrorist attacks in the air.
All major airports-
Including Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi-
They said they were on high alert.
\"This is based on the warnings received by the government, and we are prepared as usual,\" Air Force chief of staff Farry major told reporters . \".
Officials quoted intelligence as saying militants could sneak into India to try to hijack civilian aircraft.
\"We are on high alert now,\" said Arun Arora, spokesman for Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi . \".
The civil aviation security agency, which is fully responsible for airport security, said more paramilitary forces had been deployed to defend the country\'s busiest international airport.
\"We are also strengthening the security of smaller airports in cities such as Chandigarh and Guwahati,\" an official with the bureau said . \".
Witnesses say the paramilitary forces in Chennai have set up machine gun bunkers at the entrance to the city\'s international airport.
Indian Air Force sources say fighter jets have been put on standby. Across India.