Terrorists could use old airstrips

Centre warns states against vacant airports being used for aerial attack

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has written to all the concerned states to safeguard their abandoned airstrips of all sizes and nature.

The communication regarding the airstrips was sent to the all the border states in the last week of December, which was then sent to the respective district administrations. "There are several airstrips all over the country which can be used by terrorists. We need to keep an eye over them to avoid any unwanted activity," said a senior MHA officer, requesting anonymity.

After the Mumbai terror attacks, the Government of India has already made it clear that the nation is under an aerial threat where militants could use small, remote-controlled flying objects to target cities and vital installations. Sources in the government also said that there is information that terrorists could be trying to use these abandoned airstrips to launch their activities.

The states that have been sent the advisory includes those at the Indo-Pak border including Rajasthan and Gujarat which saw serial blasts in the last year. "The threat is basically from the sleeper cells active in these states. Most of these airstrips are located in isolated areas and it's not difficult for them (sleeper cells) to carry out small terror activities," said a senior police officer from Gujarat, on condition of anonymity.

Gujarat has more than 15 airstrips of various sizes located in far-flung areas.

Rajasthan, meanwhile, has more than 17 airstrips which now will be secured by the district police and local administration.

Sources in the MHA and other agencies also informed that militants have the wherewithal to carry out air strikes. "It does not take much to carry out an aerial strike with remote-controlled flying objects laden with small amount of explosives," said the MHA officer.