AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, Aug 8 (TIWN): The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has stepped up security at all airports and airstrips in the country ahead of Independence Day in view of the threat alerts received by security agencies.

The airport safety watchdog has said in an alert to various airports that no visitor passes will be issued from 10 August to 20 August.

It also instructed airports to enhance access control at their facilities by erecting more barriers, tightening the screening of passengers and enhanced security arrangements at parking facilities in addition to monitoring for drones around airports.

The move coincides with the rising tensions in Jammu & Kashmir after the government amended the constitution this week to divide the state into two union territories, which could have repurcussions for India-Pakistan relations.