Enhanced screening measures for travellers to India have been lifted, says minister’s office

The enhanced screening measures imposed earlier this week on people travelling to India have now been lifted, the office of Transport Minister Anita Anand tells PAX.

On Monday (Nov. 18), Minister Anand said in a press statement that, "out of an abundance of caution," her ministry would temporarily implement additional security screening for travellers to India.

Transport Canada warned passengers flying to India they may face longer-than-usual security wait times at airports.

The agency said Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), which screens passengers and baggage before entering restricted areas of airports in Canada, may conduct extra measures, such as hand swabs, sending carry-on bags through X-ray machines and physically screening passengers.

The extent of how many travellers were subjected to the beefed-up protocols is unclear.

Anand's announcement on Monday came one month after the RCMP linked agents of the Indian government to widespread crimes in Canada, including acts of murder, extortion and intimidation, CBC News reports.

India has denied the RCMP’s allegations and said they were “simply not true.”

India-Canada ties also remain tense due to Canada’s accusation that India was involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who was designated by India as a terrorist.

Indian officials maintain that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan groups operating on Canadian soil, reports NDTV.

In a separate incident, an Air India flight from New Delhi flying to Chicago in October was diverted to Iqaluit because of a bomb threat. In the end, no bomb was actually found on board the plane.

Anand’s office has not connected that incident to the short-lived security measures announced this week.

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