BSF suspends ASI accused in IGI Airport theft case

The BSF Thursday suspended an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) who was caught for allegedly stealing a woman's handbag containing ornaments worth Rs 15 lakh at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

A senior official of the force said ASI Naresh Kumar of 21st battalion was suspended after going through the prima facie evidence of theft and police case registered against him.

Kumar, a resident of Haryana, had joined the Border Security Force (BSF) in 1987 and was promoted as an ASI in 2012, he said.

According to police, the incident took place Tuesday when the woman, along with her husband, were at the airport to board a flight to Srinagar.

After completing her boarding formalities, she took a seat and kept her handbag under the liner chair.

A few minutes later, the woman realised that her handbag containing ornaments was missing, following which she approached police.

"Kumar was nabbed with the help of CCTV footage in which he was seen taking away the handbag of the woman," Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport), Sanjay Bhatia said.

The stolen gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh was recovered from him, he said.

The accused was at the IGI Airport to board a flight to Bagdogra.

Police had said a medical examination confirmed that Kumar was under the influence of alcohol and stole the handbag to make easy money.