Chennai police update information on airport staff

Chennai: The number of cases involving people working at the Chennai airport being arrested for their alleged links with smuggling rackets and also for stealing goods from the baggage of passengers is on the rise. To tackle this emerging trend, the airport police are swinging into action asking all the firms functioning inside the airport premises to submit within 10 days up-to-date details like particulars of Aadhaar card and photographs of all staff working with them.

The police say they are seeking details only of temporary staff. This is apart from regular verification done by them before entry passes are issued to all those go to work at the airport. In recent times, various agencies arrested as many as 10 temporary workers for their alleged nexus with smuggling rackets. In the last year alone, as many as 23 persons have been arrested for stealing valuables from the bags of international passengers. In most such cases, the police found the suspects were not available at the addresses they give when they join duty.

To overcome such hurdles, the airport police recently organised a meeting with 53 representatives of the firms which employ more than 800 people on a temporary basis. The police have not asked for details of employees of government agencies and permanent employees of private firms. “In most cases we found temporary employees showing this tendency to indulge in crime,” the police noted.

All the 800 odd workers were asked to provide their passport-size photograph and bio-data besides Aadhaar card and voter identity card details. In the meeting, the police also told the representatives of firms to inform their employees that CCTV cameras cover the entire airport and every step people take once they enter the premises is captured by these surveillance camera systems.