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For Scotch Lovers
Six missing bottles of scotch
have exposed a security loophole on the Prime Minister’s special aircraft and
resulted in an acrimonious exchange between Air India and the Special Protection
Group (SPG) that looks after the PM’s security.
The SPG is at present
conducting a probe into this and questioning senior Air India Officials. The
security breach was discovered by the Special Protection Group sleuths at
Hanover when the Prime Minister was on his way back from a state visit to Berlin
and Tashkent during April 21-26. The SPG found one of the overhead cabins, which
was supposed to be sealed, open. A quick inspection by Air India’s Deputy
General Manager (Security) who was on board, revealed that six scotch bottles
were missing from it. A lengthy security sweep of the aircraft followed before
the SPG concluded that the theft was an insider’s job and that there was no
threat to the Prime Minister and the other VIPs on board.
The sleuths later kept a
discreet watch on all the check-in baggage while it was being screened at the
Berlin airport. Some of the crew members were found carrying with them the
scotch bottles. The Flight’s Commander, Captain N. K. Berry, had five bottles on
him. There were a few others who were carrying five or more bottles.
On arrival in India, the crew
members were confronted by the security agencies about the theft. Captain Berry,
who is also the Resident Director of Air-India based in New Delhi, was
interrogated by General Manager (Vigilance). Though Captain Berry accepted he
was carrying five bottles of Scotch, he denied he had anything to do with the
liquor bottles missing from the Prime Minister’s aircraft. Other crew members
suspected to be involved in the theft were also questioned.
Is this news not mind-boggling?
PM's security was breached for some petty gains by those who are drawing hefty
salary and who are held in high esteem in the society. The recent bomb blast and
the earlier ones indicate that professors, doctors, engineers are involved in
such heinous activities. What could be the reasons for their involvement? Do
they have some noble goal? No. The only goal is to earn money by short-cut
methods of whatsoever nature. One of our fellow brothers. Mr. Badheka died in
the recent bomb blast. Anyone of us could be such victim if he or she was there
at that place and at that time. A seller of the scotch bottle and the buyer both
get equal treatment at that place. Let us have introspection.
Vinayak Patkar,
Editor.
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