Kozhikode airport rampage: Nine more CISF officials held

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 officials to 13, a Kerala Police official said. Ten AAI officials have also been arrested.

The nine have been booked for destruction of public property, Circle Inspector B. Santhosh, the police officer investigating the happenings on June 10 at the airport, told IANS.

Four more CISF officials were arrested on June 14.

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

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

At this, angry CISF personnel on duty inside the airport 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, Kerala Police took over security of the Kozhikode airport, and it was opened for the public the next morning.

Ten AAI officials were arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of CISF trooper Yadav.

The CISF officials have been charged with destruction of public property.