ALERT: Security measures have been intensified at the sorting area of the GPO after pistols were found in a parcel last week. representational pic

With the onset of the festive season and the looming threat of possible terror strikes, the city's postal department and courier companies will scan all parcels before they are delivered.

While terrorists planted bombs in dustbins in the recent Delhi blasts, post boxes and parcels are a feared target.
 
Security measures have been intensified at the sorting area of the General Post Office after pistols were found in a parcel last week. However, inquires had revealed that the consignment, which was marked to Guwahati, was sent by a sportsman who was taking part in a shooting competition. In another incident in August, Vakola police were informed about a gun inside a letterbox.

Chief Postmaster General M S Bali said, "We will conduct checks to look for any suspicious content in parcels. We have briefed our staffers and CCTVs have been installed where parcels are sorted." Customers will also be asked to pack parcels in the presence of a postal staff.

According to Adnan Ahmed, director (Mail Business), Mumbai Sorting Division, their business increases by 20 per cent during festivals. He said, "Around 7,000 parcels are delivered on a daily basis. We have 350 offices where parcels are booked." Another officer said that suspicious parcels do not have proper address of the receiver nor the sender. Also, parcels, which have forged stamps, are thoroughly checked.

A senior official from courier company Blue Dart, said, "It is mandatory to scan every parcel before it is received at the counter and dispatched to the airport. We have our internal systems put in place to keep a check for suspicious items."

Joint Commissioner of Police (ATS) Hemant Karkare, said, "We will have a word on the security issue with all concerned agencies, including the postal department."