Security
measures at IGI to be intensified
NEW DELHI, Jan 13: In the wake of
increasing threats of terror attack on
the Indira Gandhi International Airport
(IGIA) in the capital, a number of
measures, including having a dedicated
dog squad and installation of a hi-tech
perimeter intrusion detection system, are
being taken.
The
dedicated dog squad, comprising of six
dogs and their CISF handlers, will make
random checks at the different terminal
buildings, car parking area and baggage
handling zone to prevent entry of any
explosives or dangerous material in the
vicinity of the airport, senior IGIA
officials said.
The IGIA
has become the first airport in the
country to own such a dedicated dog
squad.
In order
to prevent any intrusion bid from the
periphery of the airport, a four-layer
Perimeter Intrusion Detection System will
be installed, the officials said.
The
system-comprising taut wire, buried
cables, CCTV cameras and radars-can very
effectively track any kind of intrusion
into the airport, they said.
In order
to thwart any evil motives of terrorists,
installation of state-of-the art cameras
and Explosive Detection System are
underway.
Over 100
such cameras will be installed at the
domestic terminal and about 205 at the
International terminal. These cameras
have many unique features which include
high resolution, built-in encoders and
also cover a large area.
Apart from
this, DIAL, which manages the airport,
has also procured four advanced X-ray
machines, which will make checking of
cabin baggage faster, in turn ensuring
faster clearance of passengers.
The IGI
Airport, which has been classified as
hypersensitive by the security agencies,
will soon become the first airport in the
country to have an advanced Explosive
Detection System.
DIAL has
provided three such Explosive Vapour
Detectors to CISF for random checking of
baggage. These devices can detect traces
of vapours of explosives.
To make
the screening of baggage faster and more
effective, new in-line Baggage Screening
system is being installed at the
International terminal (T2).
Eight such
machines will be installed in T2 and DIAL
will impart training to the CISF
personnel for its effective functioning.
Four
machines have already arrived and
installation work is under progress and
will be operational by January last,
officials said.
Besides,
the number of CISF personnel will be
increased by 50 per cent. Around 2,300
CISF personnel of all ranks are guarding
the IGI Airport and the strength would
increase by 1,200 when the renovation
work of the international terminal is
over and the new domestic terminal (T1B)
is ready by July this year, they added.
(PTI)
My
sexy image is limited to a song: Amrita
Rao
NEW DELHI, Jan 13: Shrugging
off all speculation regarding her recent
metamorphosis into a oomphy diva in her
latest film, ‘My name is Anthony
Gonsalves’, Bollywood actress Amrita
Rao says she is still the same girl-next
door and it was just one song where she
put up the sexy image.
"The
sexy image was limited only to that song
of the film. In rest of the film I am the
same girl that you all know. I play a
working woman in the film and I am happy
with the role," she says.
Amrita,
who paired up with debutant actor Nikhil
Dwivedi in this film, had her last
release ‘Vivah’ in 2006. So
where she had been in all this time?
"I
was working in a Telegu film and moreover
since there are no second chances in the
film industry, I decided to choose my
films rather carefully," she says.
But now
that she has made a comeback after a
year, why did she choose to act with a
newcomer?
"Well,
Nikhil never looked to me as a newcomer.
I never felt that he was acting for the
first time. He never looked out of place.
Although the film had some great actors,
he almost moved freely with
everybody," says the actress, who
made her debut with ‘Ishq Vishq Pyar
Vyar’ starring Shahid Kapoor.
Amrita who
hogged the limelight with Shahrukh Khan
starrer ‘Main Hoon Na’, says
she wants to live a new life in each of
her films.
"I am
looking for different roles so that I can
live a new life in each of my films. So
that each time I face my audience I look
different," she says.
Amrita who
has always been portraying a good girl
image says she would love to act in an
action film.
"I am
working in a film called ‘Short
Cut’, starring Anil Kapoor, then
there is ‘Victory’ directed by
Neeraj Vora and last but not the least
Shayam Benegal’s
‘Mahadev’," she says.
"While
‘Victory’ is a cricket-centric
film pairing me and Harman Baweja,
Mahadev is a satirical comedy where I
play a traditional role opposite Shreyas
Talpade," she adds.
A
self-confessed fan of Benegal, Amrita
says that she watched all the films of
the award winning director before facing
the camera.
"I
always wanted to work with Shayam sir. So
I watched all his films, including
‘Zubaida before going for
shooting," she says. (PTI)
CAT
directs release of retiral benefits to
civil servant
NEW DELHI, Jan 13: The Central
Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has
directed the Delhi Government to release
retiral benefits to a civil servant, who
is an accuse in a housing societies scam
in the city.
A bench of
the Tribunal headed by member Justice
Meera Chhibber held that chargesheet in
the case against the petitioner was filed
after he retired from the service hence
there was no justification to withhold
his retiral benefits including gratuity
and leave encashment.
The bench,
referring to rules of the department,
also held that the offence of corruption
alleged against the petitioner did not
involve any finances so nothing was to be
recovered from his retiral benefits and
leave encashment.
The Bench
pointed out from the applicable service
rules that mere registration of a case
was not sufficient to withhold the
retiral benefits, gratuity and leave
encashment of the personnel.
Petitioner
Daya Nand Sharma, an Assistant Registrar
in the office of the Registrar of
Co-operative Societies had moved the CAT
seeking direction to release his gratuity
and leave encashment.
He had
submitted that since chargesheet has been
filed against only six persons till date
since the institution of the case in
2005, out of total 12 persons, the case
was bound to take a long time.
Sharma is
accused of irregularities involved in a
scam relating to revival of defunct
Co-operative Group Housing Societies in
Delhi allegedly to get land alloted from
DDA at concessional rates.
He had
contended before the Tribunal that in
identical situation, retirement benefits
had been released to other persons of the
department and therefore, he could not be
discriminated against.
Moreover,
there was no provision under the CCS
(Pension) Rules to withhold the retiral
benefits including leave encashment of a
government servant, he had claimed. (PTI)
Surrendered
ultra turns football coach
AGARTALA, Jan 13: When Mati Lal
Debbarma surrendered his gun as an
insurgent three years ago, he could not
dream of being appointed as the football
coach for the Tripura state’s Junior
Women team.
Debbarma,
who is a successful coach now, was
kidnapped by proscribed insurgents of the
National Liberation Front of Tripura
after he began running a football
coaching camp.
"I
had to pay a heavy price. They (NLFT)
thought when I could organise so many
youths for football coaching, I would
also be able to show my leadership
qualities in the underground," he
said.
When he
refused repeated proposals from the NLFT,
they came for him one night in 2002.
"They
encircled my thatched house and set it
ablaze and kidnapped me at gun
point," Debbarma said.
He was
made to journey through hills and forests
of Tripura and cross the Indo-Bangladesh
border with the ultras to train in arms
for subversive activities in India, he
said.
"I
broke down but they did not release me. I
was transferred from one camp to another
in Bangladesh. In one camp I saw
insurgents playing football and I joined
them."
In
December in 2005, Debbarma managed to
flee the camp in Bangladesh and crossed
the Indian border.
He
surrendered his weapon on December 25 and
returned to normal life.
He
returned to his old profession of
training youngsters and last year, the
Tripura Government appointed him coach of
the junion women’s team which
participated in the national competition
that year.
"Football
was my first love and it was in my blood.
But in the village there was no field, so
I walked down about five km every day to
play football," Debbarma who is from
Warengbari, a remote and sleepy tribal
hamlet of West Tripura district, said.
He said he
neither got proper education nor any
coaching in football, his favourite game
which he often played on the grounds of
Bishramganj High School in the district.
Lack of
nutrition and proper care did not allow
him to pursue a footballer’s career.
When his
dream of getting a chance in the
state’s football team was shattered,
he opened a coaching centre near the
school.
Attracted
by his leadership quality and coaching
skills many young boys and even tribal
girls joined the centre to learn
football.
"Many
boys who were coached at my centre are
now participating in national meet. I
think this is my success," he said.
(PTI)
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