Fifteen people have been booked in connection with clash between CISF jawans and Airport Authority of India (AAI) firemen at the Kozhikode international airport in which one jawan was shot to death.
A pitched battle had broken out between uniformed men from Wednesday night that continued until the small hours on Thursday.
Inquiry orderedKerala Home minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Thursday here that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident. Forensic officials have been sent to the site.
A large posse of police personnel has been deployed at the airport. The police are also viewing the CCTV footage of the incident as part of the investigation. Debesh Kumar Behera, Superintendent of Police, said that cases have been registered against 15 persons under Section 302 of IPC. Ten men of the airport fire and rescue service have been ‘detained.’
Meanwhile, a report from New Delhi said that the Union Home Ministry has taken serious note of the incident and has asked for a report.
CISF jawan deadHome Minster Rajnath Singh said that he had spoken to the CISF Director General with regard to the incident. Minister of State Kiren Rijiju said that he too was waiting for the report.
Anil Bali, CISF Commandant, said the police are investigating the case. “They are doing a good job. We are brothers in uniform. I am sure they will do whatever is best. Law will take its own course.”
The scuffle at the airport was triggered after Jaipal Yadav, a CISF jawan, insisted that a fireman moving close to cross the high-security gate within the premises undergo frisking.
The latter resisted, and a verbal duel broke out giving way soon to fisticuff.
Office ransackedIn the heat of the moment, the fireman allegedly snatched the rifle from the jawan and shot him from close range.
The fireman was beaten up by CISF men who charged in from various areas within the high-security area.
Eye witnesses said that the CISF men went on the rampage and ransacked the office and facilities of the airport fire and rescue force.
On their part, the AAI firemen rolled out their fire tenders and parked them on the tarmac to block aircraft movement.
The Air Traffic Control was forced to close down operations and signalled out to incoming flights to divert to Cochin international airport.
The rival forces ended a 10-hour-long siege of the premises only after the state police was allowed to intervene and broker peace, sources said. AAI employees agreed to return to work after getting an assurance that the Kerala police would provide them security.