CISF first CAPF to go cashless for fuel needs, to save Rs 12 lakh annually

[Hindustani78]

The actual size of the CISF contingent (between 13-44 personnel) to be sent for the duty will depend on the size and geographical location of the airport under the regional air connectivity scheme.
india Updated: Sep 24, 2017 15:35 IST
Press Trust of India, New Delhi

A CISF securityman during a security check at IGI Airport’s T3 in New Delhi. (Ravi Choudhary/HT File Photo)

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...udan-scheme/story-POLSjatq2Pvu99B8Z82FGN.html


The ambitious UDAN scheme -- the low-cost regional air connectivity network of the government -- could soon have an armed security cover in place against possible terror threats as a blue print has been prepared by the aviation security force CISF.

The Director General (DG) of the 1.80-lakh personnel strong paramilitary force, OP Singh, told PTI in an interview that an “economically viable yet strong security proposal” has been prepared by the force and submitted to the ministry of civil aviation for consideration.

The UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Shimla in April this year and the most important factor to keep it running is cheap flight rates for passengers.

“We have given a model (proposal) to the ministry of civil aviation saying you can have a CISF cover in those airports (under UDAN) which are regionally connected and we will give the minimum manpower ranging from 13 to 44 people.

“Such a deployment and security system would be more economical rather than a permanent deployment of the force,” the DG told the news agency.

The actual size of the CISF contingent (between 13-44 personnel) to be sent for the duty will depend on the size and geographical location of the airport under the regional air connectivity scheme.

Singh said the security blueprint prepared to guard such facilities has been made as “aircraft-centric” and not airport focussed, as in the case of its regular deployment, as committing such a huge manpower will incur heavy cost.

“So, we have planned something like a hub model as security for this scheme has to be cost effective and economical.

“What we will do is that personnel from the nearest regular CISF unit will be sent to secure the airport area under the UDAN scheme before a flight takes off and they will return to their base after conducting frisking of passengers, their baggage and conducting other anti-sabotage checks,” Singh said.

An example in this context is a place like Durgapur in West Bengal, the DG said, where you have the steel plant (already guarded by the CISF) and the airport (under UDAN scheme) and these can be clubbed for conducting the dual tasks.

“This is what I mean by the hub.This means where you have the unit of CISF elsewhere doing some other job and at the same time they can be drafted into the aviation sector. This way you can minimise the cost of deployment and security,” he said.

What we have proposed to the government and the civil aviation ministry is that the CISF security “will be aircraft-centric rather than airport centric.They (government and the aviation ministry) are examining it. If he government approves, we can go there.This is like going and coming back task,” the CISF boss said.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is the designated civil airports security force of the country and it secures 59 such airports, out of the total 98, at present.

While security officials do not confirm any input on potential terror threats to the airports under the UDAN scheme, they do accept that an armed security is required for these facilities when an aircraft takes off and lands at these unguarded or thinly guarded locations.

The UDAN seeks to popularise regional air travel on short sectors by capping fares at Rs 2,500 per hour.

The short flights aim at boosting air connectivity to and from unserved and under-served airports and making flying more affordable for the common man.

According to the civil aviation ministry, Maharashtra has the highest number of unserved airports at 19, followed by Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh at 11 each.

Similarly, West Bengal and Karnataka have seven such airports each which do not have one single flight operations.

Unserved airports are the one where there is no flight operations whereas the underserved airports have been categorised as the ones which have three or less flight per week.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
09-October, 2017 18:37 IST
Union Home Minister attends Passing Out Parade at CISF Regional Training Centre Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu

Shri Rajnath Singh asks CISF to raise specialised wing and conduct regular cyber security audits

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has said the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) needs to upgrade and technologically advance itself to face and counter any incident of cyber terrorism. Addressing the Passing Out Parade of Assistant Commandants (Executive), Sub Inspectors (Executive) and Assistant Sub Inspectors (Executive) at the CISF Regional Training Centre (RTC) Arakkonam, in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu today, Shri Rajnath Singh said a specialised Wing in the CISF should be created to conduct regular cyber security audits and build capacities to deal with cyber-terrorism.

Pointing out that cyber-terrorism has emerged as a major terror threat facing several countries in the world, the Union Home Minister said the cyber terrorists use digital tracks to attack important institutions, buildings and installation.

Shri Rajnath Singh also called upon the CISF to conduct regular security audits of all important buildings and installations. The CISF should strengthen its security mechanism based on these audit reports and also by adopting new technological solutions, he added. The Union Home Minister said the CISF needs to maintain its core competence against terrorism so that our strategic installations are not hit by any terrorist group. Shri Rajnath Singh said India is one of the fastest emerging economies of the world. Certain anti-India forces are not able to appreciate these visible economic trends in India, he added.

Noting with satisfaction that the CISF has largest number of women among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Shri Rajnath Singh said he’s confident the CISF will be the first Force to achieve 33% reservation target for Women. The CISF has crossed many milestones during its journey of nearly 48 years since inception. The role of CISF has been further diversified and expanded with rapid increase in globalisation and liberalization, he added. Applauding the excellent turnout of the Parade, the Union Home Minister also congratulated the trainers who have trained these CISF probationers. He said training is the most important pillar of any force. Shri Rajnath Singh said he is hopeful the training given to probationers will help them in performing their duties.

During the Dikshant Parade, the Union Home Minister also awarded medals and prizes. Shri Rajnath Singh later laid the Foundation Stone of the Sub-Officers’ Ladies Hostel, at the CISF RTC, Arakkonam. The Director General, CISF, Shri O.P. Singh and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

***

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh inspecting the guard of honour, during Passing Out Parade of AC/EXE(UT), SI/EX(UT) and ASI/EXE(UT), at the CISF Regional Training Centre, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu on October 09, 2017. The Director General, CISF, Shri O.P. Singh is also seen.

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh taking the salute, during Passing Out Parade of AC/EXE(UT), SI/EX(UT) and ASI/EXE(UT), at the CISF Regional Training Centre, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu on October 09, 2017. The Director General, CISF, Shri O.P. Singh is also seen.

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh releasing the manuals, during Passing Out Parade of AC/EXE(UT), SI/EX(UT) and ASI/EXE(UT), at the CISF Regional Training Centre, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu on October 09, 2017. The Director General, CISF, Shri O.P. Singh is also seen.

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh addressing on the occasion of Passing Out Parade of AC/EXE(UT), SI/EX(UT) and ASI/EXE(UT), at the CISF Regional Training Centre, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu on October 09, 2017. The Director General, CISF, Shri O.P. Singh is also seen.

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh pinning the rank on a CISF personnel, on the occasion of Passing Out Parade of AC/EXE(UT), SI/EX(UT) and ASI/EXE(UT), at the CISF Regional Training Centre, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu on October 09, 2017. The Director General, CISF, Shri O.P. Singh is also seen.

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh laying the Foundation Stone of the Sub-Officers’ Ladies Hostel, at the CISF Regional Training Centre, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu on October 09, 2017. The Director General, CISF, Shri O.P. Singh is also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

In a major decision aimed at easing air travel woes of those who are disabled, the Central Industrial Security Force will use explosive trace detectors (ETDs) and visual profiling.

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...off-wheelchairs-for-airport-security-4888752/

The CISF will no longer carry out the ‘humiliating’ airport security drill of asking people with disabilities (PWDs) to remove their prosthetics or making passengers get up from their wheelchair for screening, said a top official.

In a major decision aimed at easing air travel woes of those who are disabled, the Central Industrial Security Force will use explosive trace detectors (ETDs) and visual profiling, said CISF Director General (DG) O P Singh.

CISF took the decision to undertake a massive training of its personnel to usher in the new regime at all Indian airports under its cover following a recent meeting with PWD activists, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and other stakeholders.

It will also conduct a country-wide survey to find out how many such passengers travel by air each day.

“The aim is to ensure that such passengers do not face any humiliation or uneasiness when they travel through Indian airports. We have seen numerous complaints in this regard. “What we have decided now is to use explosive trace detectors and the visual profiling method of the passenger and his prosthetic tool or wheelchair rather than asking them to take out everything,” Singh told PTI.

PTI was the first to report that the force was considering doing away with cumbersome security procedures of frisking PWDs by using smart gadgets instead. An ETD is a smart machine which sniffs explosive particles or traces present in a device and gives an alert.

According to Singh, the current procedure of asking passengers to take off their prosthetics before boarding a flight and displacing those on wheelchair, so that it can be put in a scanner, will only be resorted to in “select cases or in case of suspicion”.

“We are soon going to issue a fresh list of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to usher the new regime in a uniform manner,” he said. “We will also conduct a survey at all the 59 airports that we guard to see how many such PWD passengers we receive on an average. That will give us a fair idea as to how to go about implementing the new SOPs.”

A senior official in the CISF airport sector said they have estimates that about eight-10 such passengers use Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) everyday, the busiest airport in the country.

“Passengers with prosthetics will be asked to remove them only under compelling circumstances which will be purely security concerns. The same procedure will be adopted for wheelchair bound passengers and those with other disabilities,” the official said.

The director general added that CISF was also looking at “simplifying the security procedures for passengers with orthopaedic issues.”

In case of prosthetics with foam padding, he said, CISF personnel will use new SOPs but can seek its removal, keeping in mind security concerns. Disability rights activist Javed Abidi, who attended a recent meeting with the CISF authorities on the subject, raised his concerns during a recent conversation.

“I have travelled across the globe for so many years now but only at an Indian airport do I have to get down from my wheelchair so that the security personnel on duty can put it inside a large x-ray machine to check it against explosives and other hazardous material that can be threat to the aircraft or aviation security,” Abidi, the convener of the Disabled Rights Group, said.

It is very difficult and embarrassing, he said, for people who have prosthetic or artificial limbs to take out the entire part in full public view inside an airport.

The CISF is the central paramilitary force tasked with guarding 59 civil airports in the country.

 

[Hindustani78]

*******
http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi...at-airports/story-2xCJnDmpzOEdC3ou8rnxnI.html

Passengers with disability will not be required to vacate their wheelchair for X-ray at airports. CISF personnel will now conduct these checks with a handheld detector.
delhi Updated: Oct 13, 2017 12:11 IST

BCAS has also said that passenger with prosthetics or braces/support appliances should inform the concerned airline and must be accompanied by an airline representative, preferably of the same gender as the passenger.(Hindustan Times)

Passengers with disability will no longer have to remove their prosthetic limbs for X-ray screening at airports. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has decided to do away with the ‘humiliating’ practice across airports in the country. In addition, the CISF has also decided not to screen wheelchairs through X-ray as it causes inconvenience.

In both the cases, handheld explosive trace detector (ETD) will be used and only in rare cases, where security personnel feel the need, will they request passengers to remove the prosthetic.

On the request of CISF, Bureau for Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) had constituted a committee which suggested alternate ways of screening. BCAS had also invited suggestions to prepare an SOP for frisking of such passengers.

“We have conducted various meetings and on Wednesday a final meeting was conducted with every stakeholder, including some disability right activists. BCAS has made necessary changes in the existing act and our job is to sensitize our personnel at the airport. CISF will issue dos and don’ts to facilitate passengers with disability,” OP Singh , DG CISF, said.

Earlier, passengers with disability had to remove their prosthetic limbs put it in the X-ray machine. Many passengers felt the procedure was humiliating. Rules also required passengers to vacate their wheelchair for screening by CISF.

“We have ETD at every airport and our staff will carry out the checks with it. Screening of prosthetic appliances covered with foam padding in which the steel rod is not visible, will include visual inspection, ETD checks and X-ray screening, if deemed necessary,” Singh said.

BCAS has also said that passenger with prosthetics or braces/support appliances should inform the concerned airline and must be accompanied by an airline representative, preferably of the same gender as the passenger.

“The objective is to ensure that there is no inconvenience to the passengers with prosthetic limbs in future, but without diluting the standards of security,” said a ministry official quoting the draft SOP.

The committee has suggested that if X-ray screening of the prosthetic limb is required, such passenger should be taken to a private screening point and made to sit comfortably for taking off his/her prosthetic limb. Disability rights activist had earlier asked the security agencies to follow the international security standard where they check such passengers ETD.

Past cases

October 2016: Two-time para-cycling Asian medallist Aditya Mehta wrote on Facebook post that CISF officials at Bengaluru airport made him “undo and redo” his prosthesis during the security check.

September 2015: An international para-athlete, Suvarna Raj, alleged harassment claiming she asked to get up from the wheelchair for security check at Delhi airport.

February 2014: A passenger, who was above knee amputee, was asked to remove his prosthetic limb at Delhi airport.)

October 2013: A 45-year-old finance professional was asked to strip waist down at Delhi airport for the security check.

July 2013: A 38-year-old marketing professional from Mumbai had to take off her prosthetic leg to be separately passed through security check.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...clear-bases/story-sw2JeWe2HNTMpG4a0UGZWK.html

A special team of CISF agents has been trained in the job of tracking social media trends, news, reports and indicators across various platforms, collate them and dish them out as vital pieces of actionable intelligence.
india Updated: Oct 22, 2017 15:19 IST
Press Trust of India, New Delhi

The CISF, the national agency tasked to secure these important assets, has created a maiden media lab and social media monitoring control room.(HT File)

Social media trends and data analytics will be used for the first time in ensuring and monitoring the security at the country’s most vital assets such as airports and nuclear and aerospace installations.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the national agency tasked to secure these important assets, has created a maiden ‘media lab’ and social media monitoring control room -- the Pattern Research For Institutional Social Media (PRISM) analytics -- at its base in Arakkonam near Chennai.

A special team of CISF agents has been trained in the job of tracking social media trends, news, reports and indicators across various platforms, collate them and dish them out as vital pieces of “actionable intelligence” to its various airports and other vital units.

Platforms like Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube and Flickr will be used by the paramilitary force to check any suspicious and sabotage-like activity against the assets it guards.

The platform, developed by the IIT Delhi, is used by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Mumbai police to keep a check on security issues.

“We are doing this on an experimental basis. The PRISM control room is based in the southern part of the country as we have a sizeable number of units that have our armed security cover in that part. Based on the experiences, this smart centre will be further bolstered,” CISF Director General (DG) O P Singh told PTI.

He said that a special team of his men and women will keep a “track of social media trends” with the sole view of keeping their units such as airports, aerospace stations and nuclear bases safe.

“This is completely in-house. We intend to link it to our WAR (web analytics and resolution) room that is already operational and based in Delhi,” Singh said.

“The digital chatter in the world of social media is a great source for intelligence collection and timely action. Public sentiment towards the force, behavioural pattern and predictable actions can be a great help to take timely action and avoid any mishap,” a senior CISF officer said.

A red flag would be raised, he said, in the case of any posts that indicate any threat towards the units covered by the CISF or any potential harm that a force personnel would inflict upon self or others.

“The potential of this unique platform would be to avert even suicides in the force, to an extent as any sort of abnormal behaviour or posts would be an indicator for action to be taken.

“This would be done through features like sentiment analysis in-built in the software itself,” the official said.

The 1.80 lakh personnel-strong CISF is tasked to secure 59 airports and other vital installations under the command of the Union home ministry.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
23-October, 2017 20:02 IST
Shri Alok Kumar Pateria appointed as ADG, CISF

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri Alok Kumar Pateria, IPS (MP:86) as Additional Director General, CISF on deputation basis for a period upto 31.05.2020 i.e. date of his superannuation from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

*****

 

[Hindustani78]

By: PTI | Thiruvananthapuram | Published:October 27, 2017 2:13 pm

Detailing the security arrangements, the director said, people are allowed inside during the procession based on the special passes issued by the temple management. (File photo)

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...uts-runway-and-halts-flights-for-god-4908771/



Is there any airport in the world which closes its runway and reschedules flight operations for a centuries-old temple procession to pass?

The international airport in Kerala’s capital may be the only one of its kind which has been stopping flight operations and rearranging flight schedules twice every year for several decades as part of the annual festivals of the famed Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple here.

The flight operations to and from the airport here would come to a halt for five hours when “Aarattu,” the ritual bath procession of temple idols, passes through its runway on the final day of the 10-day ‘Painkuni’ and ‘Alpassi” festivals (celebrated during the Tamil months of Painkuni and Alpassi months respectively) of the shrine.

The airport issues a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), a notice containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any facility, service or procedure, among others, in airspace management, in this regard a week ahead of the procession, airport sources here said.

Armed CISF personnel stand guard on both sides of the runway when the idols pass to take a ritualistic bath in the nearby Shangumugham Beach crossing the airport premises.

After the ‘holy bath’, the procession goes back to the temple through the same route in the night with an escort of people carrying burning ‘theevettis’ (traditional fire lamps).

As this year’s ‘Aarattu’ procession, marking the culmination of the ongoing ‘Alpassi’ festival at the Lord Padmanabha Temple, would be held tomorrow evening, flight operations at the airport were scheduled to be cancelled between 4 and 9 p.m, airport authorities said.

According to the temple management, the procession moves through the airport runway as the area is part of the traditional ‘aarattu route’ through which it has been passing for several centuries to reach the beach.

The procession used to pass through the same route even before the airport was established in the year 1932, they said.


The temple issues special passes to participants in the ‘aarattu’ as it passes through the high security airport area, they added.

Thiruvananthapuram Airport Director George G Tharakan said NOTAM is usually issued a week before the procession date, so that flight operators worldwide are aware of the need to change the schedule.

“I do not think, such a practise is followed anywhere in the world…The runway will be closed completely and all flight operations, both domestic and international, will be halted for five hours. It is time when modernity meets tradition,” he told PTI.

Detailing the security arrangements, the director said, people are allowed inside during the procession based on the special passes issued by the temple management.

“They give us a list of participants, to whom they issue passes. Only such persons are permitted inside airport premises. Strict security checks, both by CISF and Kerala police personnel will be carried out at the entrance. CISF personnel guard the runway when the procession passes,” he said.

Temple authorities would be requested to clear the airport premises completely by 8.45 pm after the procession returns and the NOTAM would be withdrawn and flight operations would resume by 9:pm, Tharakan added.

The procession carrying temple idols on decorated vehicles escorted by priests, members of the erstwhile Travancore Royal family, caparisoned elephants, police band and armed and mounted police personnel besides large number of devotees, is a grand spectacle for onlookers.

The present head of Travancore Royal family, Moolam Tirunal Rama Varma would lead the procession carrying the ceremonial sword and wearing the traditional green cap, the royal symbols.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
02-November, 2017 16:23 IST
Improvement of immigration service at Delhi International Airport

Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba chaired a meeting here yesterday to discuss various measures including technology upgradation, provision of modern equipment, additional space, professional manpower etc. for improving immigration services at Delhi Airport. Senior officers of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Bureau of Immigration (BOI), National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) were present.

Following decisions have been taken to improve the immigration services:-

· DIAL will provide additional space for at least 10 more immigration counters at “Departure area” by November 15, 2017. BOI will provide manpower and other equipment like passport reading machines, computers, web cameras etc. to make these counters functional by November 20, 2017.

· Additional space will be provided by DIAL for providing 10 more additional immigration counters for facilitation of travelers in the ‘Departure area’. These counters would be made functional by January, 2018.

· At least 10 e-Visa counters would be made functional for electronic Visa facility for foreigners by November 30, 2017.

· 25 more counters for electronic Visa facility will be made functional by January, 2018. This will facilitate foreigners availing electronic Visa which is becoming increasingly popular.

· Bureau of Immigration will provide additional manpower of 1,800 personnel for improving immigration services by filling up vacant posts, inducting personnel from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and also some ex-servicemen. This will augment manpower strength at immigration counters to enable Immigration Officers to provide professional and courteous service to the travelers.

The above decisions will substantially improve Immigration services at Delhi International Airport which will facilitate not only foreigners coming to India, but also Indian travelers visiting abroad.

The meeting followed MHA taking cognizance of recent reports about long queues at Delhi International Airport during peak hours. Senior officers of MHA and Bureau of Immigration subsequently visited Delhi International Airport for on-the-spot assessment.

Government has policy to encourage foreigners to come to India for tourism, medical tourism, business, studies etc. Several initiatives have been taken to improve Visa and immigration services to encourage foreigners to visit India and to provide them a pleasant experience.

******

 

[Hindustani78]

//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/61568122.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

NEW DELHI: Most airports in the country are vulnerable to terror attacks, because local police who provide security on the city side of those are often underprepared to handle the threat, the Central Industrial Security Force has warned.

The paramilitary force has sent a report to the home and aviation ministries, highlighting the security risks from the city side of airports that includes the approach road and parking area. CISF guards the terminals at 59 of the country’s key airports. It also handles security of the city side in Delhi and Mumbai, but elsewhere, that responsibility is on the local police or other government forces.

Police are unable to deploy enough personnel to guard the area around airports, said the report submitted in September. CISF has offered to provide security on the city side of the remaining airports as well, but for that it will need an additional 4,000 personnel.

“The report has flagged that the city side security is not a priority of the state police and proper deployment of force is rarely done,” said a government official, who is aware of the content of the report.

The report explains that preventing an attack from the city side of an airport is challenging, as huge volume of people enter the airport area, he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “The report has said that it is difficult to identify a terrorist among them and, hence, creating deterrence on the city side is extremely essential and manpower is required to be sanctioned for it.”

CISF director-general OP Singh confirmed to ET that it had sent a report to the government, but refused to divulge the details. “We have submitted a report on various security aspects to the government,” Singh told ET. Its content is “confidential”, he added.

The report has come at a time when the government is working on a plan to depute CISF at all 100 operational airports, including those it currently guards. The force is also facilitating reforms to make flying hassle-free. CISF has abolished cabin baggage tags at 13 airports and is working to roll out web-based check-in at all airports.

A senior CISF official said handing over the responsibility of guarding all airports to CISF would strengthen airport security further.“A passenger is frisked only at the departing airport.

A passenger, who boards a plane at a non-CISF-manned airport, can smuggle in objectionable items inside the aircraft and may use it at a large airport upon arrival. To make the system fool proof, it would be better to have CISF at all airports,” said the official, who did not want to be named.

To meet these requirements, CISF said it will have to hire about 19,000 men over five years, including the 4,000 who it will need immediately.

 

[Hindustani78]

Rs 87 crore in cash, 2,600 kg gold and silver detected at airports after note ban

While the maximum suspect cash detection was made at the Mumbai airport, the highest volume of gold has been interdicted at Delhi’s IGI airport, and silver at the Jaipur airport.
Updated: Nov 10, 2017 09:09 IST

CISF personnel with a sniffer dog check baggage at the IGI airport in New Delhi. (HT File Photo)

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...er-note-ban/story-6iriIqaPZCwCknrr3BxGnI.html


Over Rs 87 crore suspect cash, 2,600 kg of gold and other precious metals were intercepted by the CISF at airports across India in a year since demonetisation, latest data reveals.

The CISF, which guards 59 civil airports in the country, was alerted by the finance ministry to check the suspicious movement of cash and other high value items in the wake of the demonetisation of the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November last year.

As per data of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), between November 8, 2016 and November 7, 2017, the force detected Rs 87.17 crore suspect cash, 1,491.5 kg of gold and 572.63 kg of silver as part of its airports guarding task, after the note ban was declared.

While the maximum suspect cash detection -- over Rs 33 crore -- was made at the Mumbai airport till now, the highest volume of gold (over 498 kgs has been interdicted at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, according to the data.

The highest volume of silver -- more than 266 kg -- was detected at the Jaipur airport, it added.

“All these instances and passengers apprehended with these high value items were handed over to the Income Tax department for further inquiry as per the law,” a CISF spokesperson said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...r-carrying-satellite-phone-in-mumbai-4933461/

Written by Srinath Rao | Mumbai | Published:November 12, 2017 5:42 am

The phones were banned in India after they were found to have been used by terrorists in the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai in November 2008. (Representational Image)
An Australian national was held at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport allegedly in possession of a satellite phone on Thursday night. He is the second foreigner to be caught with a satellite phone — banned in India — in the space of a month in Mumbai. According to the police, Michael Carton (58) was held at 8 pm on Thursday after Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel noticed a cellphone in his baggage while it was being scanned in the X-ray machine. An examination of the phone revealed it was an Iridium satellite phone, police said.

Satellite phones have been banned in India since 2012 after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security issued a circular to all airports in the country ordering seizure of satellite phones and detention of their users. The circular had also stated that unauthorised use of satellite phone sets by foreign nationals ‘reportedly out of ignorance regarding the ban’ had ‘serious security implications’. The phones were banned in India after they were found to have been used by terrorists in the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai in November 2008.

After the CISF informed the local police, Carton was booked by the Sahar police station under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act. However, he was not arrested and asked to attend the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Friday.

Lata Shirsath, senior inspector, Sahar police station, said Carton was released on bail by the court. Carton’s lawyer, advocate Prabhakar Tripathi, said his client was allowed to go after the police filed a chargesheet. Carton paid a cash bond Rs 15,000 and was given his passport and luggage back, the police said.

Carton, a native of Victoria state in Australia, is employed with the American natural resources firm AMCI Group. A frequent visitor to India on business, Carton was about to board a connecting flight to Indore on Thursday when he was caught for carrying the satellite phone, the police said. They added that Carton, who works in the firm’s oil and gas management division, was to meet officials of a local software company.

Advocate Tripathi said that Carton’s employers had provided him with the phone for use in emergency situations in remote places where mobile phone connection is unavailable, during his field work. In October, American businessman Edgar Banghrat was caught in possession of a satellite phone at Mumbai airport. The 56-year-old businessman had told the police that he intended to use the phone in Nepal, where he was to go trekking after concluding business meetings in India.

 

[Hindustani78]

Posted at: Nov 17, 2017, 6:12 PM; last updated: Nov 17, 2017, 6:12 PM (IST)
Canadian man held for entering IGI using fake ticket
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...or-entering-igi-using-fake-ticket/499154.html

A Canadian national was on Friday apprehended at the Delhi airport for allegedly using a fake travel ticket to see his daughters off, official sources said.

JS Malhi was apprehended at 1:30 am when the CISF personnel, deployed for airport security, found him roaming suspiciously inside the Terminal-3 (T3) building of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, they said.

Malhi told the Central Industrial Security Force personnel that he had entered the terminal to see his two daughters off, who were travelling to Canada, they said, adding he told them that he used a cancelled ticket to enter.

The man was subsequently handed over to the police as the cancelled ticket was a fake entry document, they said. Entering airport terminal without a valid ticket is illegal under the Indian aviation rules. — PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Member of Parliament, ministers and other senior dignitaries, who have security cover, will now be provided security by the elite commandos of Central Industrial Security Force
india Updated: Dec 08, 2017 07:40 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...sf-says-mha/story-tnSB1K2Gb7zXphLJV7dcVK.html

CISF Personnel alert at 1D Domestic Airport in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, January 4, 2015. (Hindustan Times File Photo)

Member of Parliament, ministers and other senior dignitaries, who have security cover, will now be provided security by the elite commandos of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). However, those protected by National Security Guard (NSG) and Special Protection Group (SPG) will continue to be under their security cover.

The ministry for home affairs said protectees covered by IndoTibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be “progressively phased out” and assigned to Special Security Group, CISF.

The SSG was formed by CISF in 2006 specifically to provide security to VVIPs. However, VIP protection was assigned to other forces. CISF already provides security to 75 VIPs including some members of the RSS.

 

[Hindustani78]

Lady constables had been trained in weapon handling, industrial security, aviation security, VIP security, human rights, gender sensitisation, terrorism, insurgency and naxalism. | Photo Credit: C_VENKATACHALAPATHY
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...tables-pass-out-from-cisf/article22546403.ece

Industrial security force has more women than other paramilitary forces, says Union Minister
A contingent of 789 women constables passed out of the Central Industrial Security Force’s (CISF) Regional Training Centre (RTC), Arakkonam, on Sunday after 39 weeks training.

On December 29, the first battalion of 779 women trainees passed out.

For Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju the passing-out parade was special. “For the first time I have witnessed the largest contingent of women forces passing out. I have been attending passing-out parades of various Central forces in the last four years. This is by far the largest ever women contingent passing out,” he told reporters.

“It shows that India as a nation, and as a society, is progressing very fast. A large number of women passing out means empowerment of society. It symbolises the move towards equality. Women empowerment is a symbol of progressive society,” he further said.

Multi-dimensional force

Pointing out that CISF was a multi-dimensional force, he said, “The CISF has come out as one of the most professional armed forces in the country. They can be compared with any of the specialised forces in the world. The training standard is very good. The Home Ministry will see what more provisions, facilities and policies need to be done to improve the centre further.”

Speaking at the passing-out parade, he said CISF had more women when compared to the other paramilitary forces.

CISF Additional Director-General Alok Kumar Pateria said 2017 was marked as the Year of Training, and about 18,000 constable trainees, including 1,600 women constables, were recruited.

Weapon handling

Apart from physical training, women constables had been trained in handling and firing of weapons.

They were taught indoor subjects such as industrial security, aviation security, VIP security, human rights, terrorism, insurgency and naxalism.

Special attention was given for improvement of their soft skills to keep in line with CISF’s fundamental principle – Polite but firm on duty, a press release said.

Mr. Rijiju handed over prizes to trainees who had excelled in various fields — Indoor Best to Sajni, Firing Best to Lakkhi Shaw and Outdoor Best and All Round Best to Bandana Kumari.

The women constables performed daredevil acts such as rappelling demonstration and aerial yoga.

V. Khamo, deputy inspector general/principal of RTC, Arakkonam, was present.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inspecting the Guard of Honour, at the passing out parade of 43rd batch of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Battalion, at Mundali, Cuttack district of Odisha on February 04, 2018.

The Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan receiving the salute at the passing out parade of 43rd batch of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Battalion, at Mundali, Cuttack district of Odisha on February 04, 2018

The Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan presenting the trophies to successful candidates, at the passing out parade of 43rd batch of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Battalion, at Mundali, Cuttack district of Odisha on February 04, 2018.