India | Updated Dec 06, 2008 at 07:39pm IST

Defunct CCTV fails to record airport 'firing'

Parikshit LuthraParikshit Luthra, CNN-IBN

New Delhi: Airports across the country have been put on high alert and security checks have become very stringent.

Passengers have been asked to the airport at least three hours before departure, even for domestic flights and to carry less baggage.

There was a false alarm at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi early Friday morning after passengers reported hearing sounds of gunfire.

"We were told that it was a terrorist attack and we all ducked immediately," said an Emirates employee about the reported firing incident

However, some people outside Gate No, 4 of the IGI Airport reported hearing two gunshots.

"We saw two people firing at CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) officials and then turning the car and running away," claimed a man.

The entire security apparatus went into an overdrive and following a massive combing operation an all clear was sounded.

"There were reports of two gunshots but no one saw anything or anyone doing the same," said CISF DIG Udayan Banerjee.

But eyewitnesses claimed the alleged culprits were in a white Qualis which moved out of the airport immediately after the shots were heard.

Security officials admitted that a white Qualis did jump the security cover but claimed that it had nothing to do with the noise that was reportedly heard.

And what is very shocking is that the police could not even stop the car which was travelling at a very high speed.

Till now security agencies haven't found any bullet marks or shells to prove that shots were fired but whatever crucial evidence could have been recorded in the form of CCTV footage was probably lost because the CCTV camera at Gate No. 4 was not working.

The camera did not record anything between 0000 hrs IST and 0200 hrs IST as there was a technical snag. Also video from a CCTV camera at the entry point is so bad that hardly anything cane be made out.

As security agencies investigate the incident, passengers have been definitely worried.

"Obviously I am very scared. You go out and you don't know what might happen. When do you feel safe at all?" asked a passenger Nancy Jacob.

With the terror threat at airports looming large most travellers say that untill and unless it is absolutely necessary they will avoid air travel.

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