Kozhikode: The Kerala Police on Thursday registered cases against 15 people under Section 302 (murder) of IPC following the death of a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawan in a scuffle with Air Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials at the international airport here.
Operations resumed at Karripur International Airport in Kerala's Kozhikode amid tight security earlier this morning after it was temporarily shut on Wednesday night following the death of the CISF jawan.
Kerala's Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said an inquiry has been ordered. Forensic officials went to the Karipur airport near here to probe the shooting incident in which CISF jawan Jaipal Yadav was killed. Three people - two AAI personnel and a sub inspector of the CISF - were also injured in the incident.
Airport director Janardhanan said that operations have become normal with two Air India Express flights from the Gulf landing this morning. The two flights which have landed are Doha-Kozhikode and Dubai-Kozhikode flights of Air India Express.
Malappuram Superintendent of Police Debesh Kumar Behara told a news agency that cases have been registered against 15 persons under Section 302 (murder) of IPC.
He said 10 Fire and Rescue Service personnel of AAI have been "detained".
"The situation is normal. We are providing all support to maintain peace", he said.
The Union Home Ministry said it is awaiting a report. Home Minster Rajnath Singh said in New Delhi that he had spoken to CISF Director General with regard to the incident.
Minister of State Kiren Rijiju said "we will see after getting the report".
Sunny Thomas, the AAI fire officer, who was in uniform, was trying to enter the airport terminal at around 8:30 pm on Wednesday when the CISF jawan insisted that he undergo a security check.
Police sources said that an argument broke out between the two and the gun of the CISF personnel was forcibly taken away from him. In the melee, the gun went off and a bullet hit the CISF personnel, identified as Jaipal Yadav, 44, killing him on the spot.
Sunny Thomas was injured after he was reportedly beaten up by CISF personnel.
A large posse of police personnel has been deployed at the airport. Police has also viewed the CCTV footage of the incident as part of the investigation.
Anil Bali, CISF Commandant, said they will fully cooperate with police investigation. "Police is investigating the case. They are doing their job very well. We are brothers in uniform. I am sure they will do whatever is best in a professional manner. They have do their duty. Law will take its own course," he said.
Meanwhile, Airport Authority Employees' Union (AAEU) 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 told a news agency in Delhi.
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.
Police said the body of the slain jawan has been kept at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital and will be handed over to CISF authorities after postmortem.
Passengers, who witnessed the violence, alleged that following the death of a CISF jawan, some CISF personnel went on a rampage chasing away passengers and other officials with lathies.
After the violence, Karipur airport was closed to traffic and three flights were diverted to Kochi's Nedumbassery airport, leaving around 400 passengers stranded.
Airport security still continues to be with CISF and state police have not taken charge of it, officials said.
"We have posted our Kerala Police officers at key points at the airport to assist the CISF personnel in security duties," said Additional Director General of Police N Shankar Reddy.
"A police team has been constituted to investigate the incident. Things are under control and the airport operations have resumed," said Reddy.
Reddy was asked by the Kerala government to rush to the airport on Wednesday night. He told a news agency that things returned to normalcy he brokered talks between the AAI officials and the CISF team.
Sources said long discussions were held to clear the runway closed by irate AAI officials who had blocked the runway.
Meanwhile, angry passengers of the Dammam-Kozhikode flight, which was diverted to Kochi early today, said they were made to wait inside the aircraft from 3.30 am to 5.30 am without being served food or water.
"We reached Kochi at around 3.30 am this morning and were allowed to leave the aircraft only two hours later", a woman passenger with a young daughter said.
Another passenger said other than a piece of cake, few chips and a bottle of water served during the flight from Dammam, they have not had any food.
Karipur airport was functioning only partially since last month following runway recarpeting work. Wide bodied aircrafts have been diverted to Kochi since May one.
(With Agency inputs)
