TSA in India

"The pat-down search at the airport is all set to be a little more intensive and intrusive, all for security of course.

A recent circular issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security that terrorists might use surgically implanted explosive devices at airports has made the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards airports in the country, give its pat-down search mechanism a thorough shake.

CISF personnel have been handed over a set of questions to screen passengers for presence of any such implantable device, with instructions that passengers unable to prove that nothing is amiss be subjected to an ‘intensive’ ‘full body’ pat-down search which will concentrate on the upper legs and torso, chest and abdomen region, with personnel asked to look for abnormalities on the skin surface and wires or tubes exiting the body, said sources.

However CISF authorities said passengers have nothing to be worried about as personnel have been thoroughly trained on how to conduct the search with the keyword being ‘courteous’ for personnel and ‘cooperative’ for flyers.

Arun Chaudhary, special director-general, (Airports), CISF confirmed that groundwork for such intensive pat-down searches had been laid. “The personnel have been given questions for passengers, especially those looking unwell or injured, and have been instructed how to carry out a full-body pat-down search. We have ordered staff to be courteous to passengers and at the same time expect passengers to be cooperative as well. It is after all about security with which we can’t take chances,” said Chaudhary.

Sources said the questions lined up for passengers start from milder ones pertaining to general health - as in whether there is need for the personnel to be cautious while carrying out a pat-down search - before moving on to more specific ones on whether the passenger uses a pacemaker, insulin pump, nerve stimulators etc.

Sources said that a full-body pat-down search will be reserved only for those who display tell-tale signs like nervousness or fear. Officials said it was possible a person is disallowed from boarding a flight in case doubts lingered even after subjecting the passenger to such a search."

[link to www.mumbaimirror.com]