Security expert dubs Air India hijack threat 'very serious'

Security expert Qamar Agha on Sunday termed the hijack threat received at the Air India office as 'very serious' and hoped that the government will take it seriously as Kolkata is on the target list of Pakistan backed extremists.

"This is a very serious matter and I am sure government must be taking it very seriously. Calcutta (Kolkata) has been targeted for quite some time, it is on the hit list for a long time. Bengal is one state which is very close to Bangladesh. We all know Pakistan has ISI backed organizations which are operating, they have created strategic assets over there," he told ANI here.

"In Bengal, Assam and in some southern states of India they have created their sleeper cells. So, therefore, the warning has become very serious," he added.

A threat phone call was made to the city's Air India office earlier last evening and a complaint was lodged with the police. The security at the Kolkata airport has been increased after the threat call.