Telangana police have sent a proposal to the Union ministry of civil aviation offering to deploy anti-terror unit Organization for Counter Terrorist Operations (Octopus) on the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) premises as the airport is a probable terrorist target, besides assigning it 'preferential' roles during a crisis.

During a recent meeting between the CISF, police, airport management and civil aviation, the issue of Octopus deployment cropped up. Regular terror alerts, the changing security scenario and permanent deployment of Octopus personnel is necessary are the propositions reportedly suggested by Telangana police.

Besides threats from local terror groups and after some Islamic State of Iraq, Syria (ISIS) sympathizers were caught in the city, the heightened alert takes place.

As the committee felt that it was not the competent authority to take the final call, the meeting remained 'inconclusive'. To permit the Octopus at the airport, both inside and outside the airport along with giving preferential roles during a terror incident were the consents in the proposal sent to the Union ministry of civil aviation. While the external security is with Cyberabad police, the RGI Airport's internal security is with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Shamshabad DCP AR Srinivas informed that an Octopus team will be placed at a nearby police station. Presently, local police only have permission in the land area and a request has been sent to allow Octopus inside the terminal building too. Based on the decision, the Octopus will be merged in the existing standard operating procedures (SOP) meant for dealing with terror crises said the DCP.