Kozhikode: Eight people have been arrested after firing at the Karipur airport in Kerala left one Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel dead on Wednesday. A CISF personnel had died following a scuffle between security staff and Airport Authority of India officials on Wednesday. Two Airport Authority of India officials were also injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, according to sources, the CISF report on the incident says that it was a pre-planned incident and not an accident. CISF sources added the fact that a group of 25 airport authority employees gathered at the airport at the time shows that it was a pre-meditated attack. The report also says that the airport authority employees timed the attack to ensure that the CISF Deputy Commandant was on leave at the time.
The dispute ensued after the CISF officer stopped an airport official at the VIP gate insisting for a body search. The airport officials grabbed the CISF personnel's gun which accidentally went off. Around 400 passengers were left stranded at the airport as flights were diverted to Kochi.
The Airport Authority Employees' Union (AAEU) had 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 BS Ahlawat said.
Alleging that the firing was aimed at AAI personnel, he said AAI personnel have not shut the airport operations rather they are saving themselves from CISF personnel who have in a way occupied the airport.
There are around 150 AAI staff posted at the airport, of which 40 are with airport fire service.
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