Kozhikode Airport Rampage: Kerala Police Arrest 9 More CISF Officials

Nine more CISF officials were arrested on Sunday for destruction of public property at the Kozhikode international airport during a fracas earlier this month, taking the number of arrested security personnel to 13, a Kerala police official said. The police had earlier also arrested 10 AAI officials.

The nine CISF men have been booked for destruction of public property, circle inspector B Santhosh, the police officer investigating the incident of 10 June, told IANS.

Earlier, four CISF officials were arrested on 14 June.

An argument on 10 June between the officials of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and that of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had ended in an accidental firing from the pistol of a CISF officer after the AAI officials tried to snatch the weapon.

In the melee, a bullet hit 44-year-old CISF trooper AS Yadav, who died instantly.

At this, the angry CISF personnel on duty went on a rampage destroying airport property. The airport was closed for almost 10 hours and two flights were diverted to Kochi.

After several hours of discussions, the Kerala police took over security of Kozhikode airport and it was opened for the public the next morning.

The arrested AAI officials were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of the CISF trooper. The CISF officials have been charged with destruction of public property.