Terror Attack Threat At Indian Airports

Neelam Mathews/New Delhi

Three international airports in the southern state of Kerala Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, India, tightened security after a March 21 threat of attacks by Sri Lankan rebel group sympathizers Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Last month, two light aircraft of the LTTE bombed Sri Lanka's main Revenue Department building near its Air Force headquarters killing at least two persons before the aircraft were brought down by the military. Colombo International Airport was closed and flights diverted to India.

"We are keeping high alert on the airports and surrounding areas since yesterday," Jacob Punnoose, India's director general of police, was quoted saying to a news wire.

Baggage screening was stepped up at the three airports and on the border as Kerala's neighbor, the state of Tamil Nadu, has 55 million Tamils who share close links with Sri Lanka's Tamils.

Kerala Kochi airport photo credit: Avitya via Wikipedia