The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has directed airports in Delhi and to stop issuing visitor entry passes following designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s recent warning to Sikhs not to fly (AI) after November 19. The order issued on November 6 says, “Issue of temporary airport entry pass (TAEP) (for) visitors to the terminal building of IGIA (in Delhi) and sale of visitors entry tickets will be banned.” Delhi airport has suspended entry passes for visitors till the month-end.

Secondary ladder point checks, in which passengers and their hand bags are checked again just before boarding aircraft, has also been made mandatory for AI flights in Punjab.

The aviation security regulator says these were precautionary measures following the “threat to civil aviation installations all over India like airports, airstrips, airfields, air force stations, helipads, flying schools and aviation training schools”. India has also asked Canada to step up security for AI flights and sought action against Pannun for issuing the threat.