CISF jawan killed in Kerala airport firing

Tension gripped the Calicut International Airport late on Wednesday after a CISF jawan was killed in accidental gunfire and at least two others injured following altercation between personnel of CISF and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The deceased has been identified as Jaipal Yadav.

Preliminary reports said the incident happened at about 9.45 pm after the CISF jawan stopped Sunny Thomas, an AAI official attached to the airport’s fire safety division, for frisking before allowing access to a high-security area near the Air Traffic Control unit.

Thomas protested against the check and in a struggle that ensued involving the two, Yadav’s gun went off, killing him. Soon, a group of CISF jawans rushed to the spot and roughed up Thomas. Apart from Thomas, another CISF jawan was injured in the incident; both were undergoing treatment in two hospitals.

The airport is in Karipur in neighbouring Malappuram district. North Zone ADGP N Shanker Reddy, along with other senior police officials, was at the airport to bring the situation under control. Unconfirmed reports said arrival of an aircraft was also delayed and the aircraft was subsequently rerouted to the Cochin International Airport. It is reported that over the past couple of months, tension between the AAI and CISF personnel had peaked over differences on the manner in which security checks were conducted on AAI officials.