BENGALURU: The Kempegowda International Airport police detained three people after a bomb threat was sent to the terminal manager. One of those detained, Shivananda (27), has confessed to sending the message to get his uncle Ninge Gowda (47) into trouble.
The other person detained by the police is Yogesh (30), a mobile shop owner who sold Shivananda the SIM card. Around 11.45 pm on Saturday night, airport terminal manager Malhotra received a message on his cell phone which read, “Be alert. Aeroplane blasting tomorrow at 11.30 am.”
The Bomb Threat Action Force (BTAF), which was immediately brought in, analysed the message and concluded that it was non-specific. Around 12.30 am, the police were also informed of the message. After gathering the details of the mobile tower which relayed the message and the SIM card, they zeroed in on Ninge Gowda from Channapatna. However, he claimed he did not own the SIM card. The police then picked up Shivananda, who on questioning confessed to having sent the message to get his uncle into trouble.
Family Fight
According to the airport police, Shivananda got married about seven months ago but barely went to work. Recently, there had been a family fight, where Ninge Gowda had reprimanded Shivananda. To take revenge, Shivananda purchased a SIM card in his uncle’s name and sent the message. The phone had been purchased from Yogesh’s shop, police said.
Shivananda had been trying to trap his uncle for some time, according to the police. He had allegedly telephoned a girl in Channapatna using the same SIM card, hoping that the suspicion would fall on his uncle.
On Saturday, soon after he sent the bomb threat to the airport, Shivananda also gave a missed call to the Superintendent of Police of Ramanagar, police said.
BIAL Statement
According to a BIAL statement, the authorities have beefed up security following the threat. “We have tight security. But considering the safety of our passengers, we have tightened it further and are keeping a close eye on suspicious movements and objects,” a spokesperson said. All incoming and outgoing flights are being thoroughly checked, police said.