CISF man dies in shootout at Kozhikode airport

Mangalore Today Network-1

Kozhikode: June 11, 2015: A CISF constable lost his life in an unprecedented clash between security staff and employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at Karipur (Kozhikode) international airport on Wednesday night.

The deceased has been identified as Jaypal Yadav. Three others injured in the melee, including a force personnel, are being treated at Kozhikode Medical College.

Sources said the spat began when Yadav stopped fire force personnel at the VIP gate and insisted on a body search before allowing them in to the tarmac area. Fire force personnel resisted the move and forced their way in.

Sources said they were stopped by Yadav. In the ensuing melee, the gun in Yadav’s possession went off injuring him fatally.

Following this, more CISF personnel arrived at the gate and thrashed all fire force personnel and AAI staff who reached the spot. CISF, sources said, ousted all AAI staff from the airport crippling the functioning of the airport.

Home minister Ramesh Chennithala told TV channels that the mishap was the result of simmering tension between CISF and AAI staff as well as fire force personnel at the airport. "We are rushing more police to the airport. We don’t want flight operations to be affected," he said.

However, flight operations were hit after fire force personnel blocked the runway using fire engines. following this, Indigo flight from Mumbai was diverted to Kochi.