Representational Image. (Mid-day.com)
As passenger frisking and checking has increased at Mumbai Airport, following a series of threat calls and messages, a female passenger was detained during late hours of Tuesday, after security found four live bullets in her baggage.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detained 33-year-old Shwetali Adnaik, for carrying the bullets and handed her over to Sahar police. Adnaik was flying to Hong Kong by Cathay Pacific CX 648, scheduled to depart at 1.30 am on Wednesday, along with three other relatives. She was caught at the main Security Hold Area (SHA) located at Level 4 of Terminal 2.
The housewife was carrying the live bullets in her handbag. Her three relatives also decided to not continue with their journey. Adnaik was booked under the Arms Act, 1959. The airport is on high alert and is being rigorously checked by all security handling agencies and local police, who are also keeping a close track of passengers' movements.
Senior security officials said that the threat calls received by the national carrier in recent days are either a prank, or a way to divert security officials from a particular place. The alert is expected to continue till the end of the month till US President Barack Obama departs from New Delhi after Republic Day.
Another threat call
Air India's call center in Thane received another threat call on Wednesday afternoon. The caller first pretended to enquire about ticket fare from Mumbai to Srinagar. He then said, "I will be coming to Mumbai to hijack a plane.' A Bomb Threat Assessment committee was formed after which the call was declared as non-specific.