Kozhikode: A murder case against 15 people has been registered over the clashes that ensued between the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Karipur International Airport officials. A CISF personnel had died and two Airport Authority of India officials had been injured during the scuffle.
The CISF officer had asked an airport official to stop at the VIP gate for a body search. However, the AAI staff resisted and a scuffle ensued. The airport staff member grabbed the CISF personnel's gun which accidently went off.
However, in a twist in the case, CISF sources claim that it was a pre-planned murder as the AAI staff were upset over regular security checks.
According to sources, the AAI employed firemen tried to enter the airport and were stopped by CISF staff at 9-50 PM on Wednesday. Within a few minutes 20 to 25 firemen came and started beating up a sub inspector.
When a head constable intervened, the assailants took his revolver which went off. The assailants then escaped in a vehicle.
The Airport Authority Employees' Union (AAEU) also claimed that excessive frisking by CISF staff led to clash. "Though it (checking) is a routine, but today when AAI personnel were entering the airport, apart from normal frisking, they were even asked to open their lunch boxes, this led to some argument and then heated exchange of words," AAEU General Secretary B S Ahlawat said.
Confirming the death of the CISF personnel, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said ADGP (North) Shankar Reddy had rushed to the spot. The Malappuram Superintendent of Police has also reached the airport and has begun talks with the CISF personnel.
Kozhikode MP, M K Raghavan said he had contacted Home Secretary L C Goyal and the civil aviation joint secretary, seeking urgent intervention of the Centre. "It is a war like situation prevailing at the airport," he said.
Around 400 passengers were left stranded at the airport as flights were diverted to Kochi. The situation is back to normal and the airport has been reopened.
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