Fear factor

• Sir - The terrorist attack inside Istanbul's main airport is a grim reminder of the pathetic state of security in most international airports. In March, there had been a similar attack in Brussels airport.

Indian airports are particularly vulnerable to terror attacks. At present, one can enter an Indian airport simply by showing the ticket and the identity proof. A passenger is not physically frisked at the entry point and the hand baggage is checked after the passenger has already entered the airport. If someone wants to conduct a terrorist strike, he or she can well carry explosive materials, hide them somewhere in the airport lounge and disappear into the crowd. The government should immediately carry out safety audits in all the international airports in India and tighten the existing security measures in order to prevent the occurrence of a Brussels- or an Istanbul-type attack.

Yours faithfully,
Ramesh G. Jethwani, Bangalore
 

• Sir - Terrorist attacks are on the rise throughout the world. Over the last six months, the world has witnessed a number of terror strikes. The year began with a suicide bombing in Istanbul on January 12. This was followed by a series of explosions in Jakarta on January 14. The attack in Burkina Faso followed in quick succession. Now, we have the attack on Istanbul Ataturk Airport as well as the massacre in Dhaka.

The number of casualties from such terror strikes has increased in recent years. Different terrorist organizations have claimed responsibility on different occasions. The objectives of these organizations have also varied. Al Qaida believes in eliminating all non-Muslim influences from Islamic countries. The Islamic State, on the other hand, has the intention of creating a caliphate. All these groups are a blot on mankind. They are a threat to world peace. All nations must be united in their effort to counter Islamist terrorism.

Yours faithfully,
Maheswar Deka, Rangia, Assam
 

• Sir - Istanbul's Ataturk Airport is one of the world's busiest. It stands to reason that such a busy airport would have the most stringent security measures. It is frightening to consider the fact that terrorists are able to dodge detection even when security is tight.

I shuddered as I watched the Istanbul attack unfold on television; I remembered that my relatives had visited the city in the recent past. One cannot begin to imagine the suffering of those who lost their loved ones in the attack.

Yours faithfully,
Sunayani Roy, Mumbai
 

Unfair decision

• Sir - The Union cabinet has decided to implement the 7th Pay Commission for Central government employees. They are entitled to a pay hike of 16 per cent and an increase of 24 per cent in pensions. Many state governments are likely to follow suit. The overall raise in salaries and pensions is likely to cost the exchequer Rs 1.02 lakh crore. The government will probably recover the cost through direct and indirect taxes. Those working in the unorganized sector will not enjoy any pay hike. But their hardships may increase because of inflation. The government should act fairly and increase the minimum wage in this sector.

Yours faithfully,
Sravana Ramachandran, Chennai
 

Parting shot

• Sir - It has been reported that former Test cricketer, Deepak Shodhan, who passed away in May, was the first Indian to score a century on his Test debut ("Shodhan no more", May 17). However, this is not true. The former Indian captain, Lala Amarnath, was the first to achieve this milestone. He made a century in the second innings of his Test debut against England in the 1933-34 series. His son, Surinder Amarnath, also made a century against New Zealand during the 1975-76 series. Shodhan was, more accurately, the first Indian to score a century in the very first innings of his first Test. He did so against Pakistan in the 1952-53 season.

Yours faithfully,
Sajal Kanti Ghosh, Baruipur