KARIPUR/CHENNAI: A CISF constable was killed and three others were injured when a fight broke out between the security personnel and Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials at the Calicut International Airport around 10 pm on Wednesday.
According to sources, differences between AAI and CISF officials over issuing entry passes had created a tense situation in the airport in recent times.
On Wednesday night, CISF personnel at an entry point in the airport reportedly asked officials of the fire and rescue services to show their entry passes. This led to a dispute between the two sides. CISF staffer S S Yadav intervened in the issue.
According to initial reports, during a scuffle with AAI staffer Sunny Thomas, the gun in Yadav’s hand went off accidentally, severely injuring him. He later succumbed. The CISF personnel on duty turned violent when they heard about the death of 42-year-old Yadav. It is alleged that they then beat up Thomas.
CISF personnel also tried to vent their anger on people who came to receive their relatives and also on taxi drivers, who were forced to flee the spot.
The brawl occurred near one of the main entry points at the airport. Thomas and Anilkumar, another AAI employee, have been admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode. Injured CISF man Seetharam Choudhari has been admitted to a private hospital at Kondotti.
“We are in a tense situation and cannot comment about the incident right now. We will brief media later,” said a person working in the fire and safety department. Police team under North ADGP Shankar Reddy reached the spot and held discussions with senior officers to pacify the agitated CISF contingent.
CISF top brass from Chennai are believed to be headed to Kozhikode to control the situation. Additional CISF personnel maybe moved from airports in Mangalore or Chennai based on the situation. Air Traffic Control in Chennai has been asked to monitor airspace around Calicut and handle diversions if need be, till Thursday afternoon.
How it unravelled
The clash was the result of a dispute between AAI officials and CISF personnel over entry passes and security check of the AAI officials
S S Yadav, a CISF personnel, was seriously injured when his gun went off accidentally and later succumbed. AAI employee Sunny Thomas is said to be in serious state
Two flights, including an Air India flight from Mumbai were diverted to the Cochin International Airport. The airport will remain shut till 6 am on Thursday