Probe ordered into the death of CISF jawan at Karipur airport

Thiruvananthapuram: Home minister Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday said an inquiry has been ordered into the clash between CISF and Airport Authority personnel in which a jawn was killed Wednesday night.

Chennithala said the team, led by North ADGP Shankar Reddy, would examine whether the act was deliberate or happened accidently amid the clash.

The minister said the Kerala Police have taken over the security of the airport for the time being.

He has also asked DGP Senkumar to submit a detailed report of the incident.

Forensic officials were at the airport to probe the shooting incident in which CISF jawan Jaipal Yadav was killed.

As operations resumed in the morning at least two Air India Express flights from the Gulf landed at the Karipur airport, which was scene of violent clashes between CISF and fire force department officials of Airport Authority of India over an issue of frisking of some personnel.

A large posse of police personnel has been deployed at the airport.

A case has been registered against unknown persons.

Karipur Airport senior police official told PTI that at least 11 CISF and fire force department officials of AAI were 'removed' from the airport last night to prevent further trouble. They have not been taken into custody, he said.

Police has also viewed the CCTV footage of the incident, he said.

Anil Bali, CISF Commandant, said they will fully cooperate with police investigations. "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 done their duty. Law will take its own course," he said.

Karipur Airport director, Janardhanan, told PTI that operations have become normal with Air India Express flights from the gulf landing in the morning.

Passengers, who witnessed the violence, alleged that following the death of a CISF jawan, some CISF went on a rampage chasing away passengers and other officials with lathies.

They were also reports about CISF personnel and Fire force vehicles blocking the runway Wednesday night. Police refused to give details saying they were probing the matter.

After the violence, Karipur airport was temporarily closed to traffic and 3 flights were diverted to Kochi's Nedumbassery airport.

Airport security still continues to be with CISF and state police have not taken charge of it, officials said.

After a CISF jawan insisted that an official of the fire force department of Airport Authority of India (AAI) undergo frisking, a verbal duel ensued which escalated into the violence between personnel of CISF and AAI.

According to reports, in the melee, a CISF jawan received gunshot injuries accidentally.

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.