Kingfisher aircraft explosive planter nabbed

A few officials of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport are to be taken to task, in the wake of the police finding an insider’s hand in the explosive planted in the Kingfisher aircraft while it was at parked at the airport on March 21.

One Rajasekharan Nair, a cleaning supervisor of a private contractor, was held for planting the explosive, who has confessed to have placed it in order to take vengeance against his colleagues. It is believed he might have entered the runway through the staff-entry gate.

As per norms any person, either it is a staff or a passenger, who enters security hold areas should be thoroughly frisked by the CISF personnel. Usually, the staff are also checked using hand-held metal detectors. Sources at the airport said that since the crude explosive planted in the aircraft did not contain any metal parts, it would not have been detected by the hand-held metal detectors.

Regional Deputy Commissioner of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) Nambi and CISF Director General N R Das were also conducting internal enquiries into the incident that had national and even international ramifications.

The Kingsfisher aircraft flew in from Bangalore to Thiruvananthapuram on March 21 with 27 passengers. After disembarkation of passengers, the cleaning staff did their work. At the cargo section a country made bomb was found folded in a Malayalam newspaper and locally printed old question papers. Tracing the printing press to Nedumangadu, the investigating team headed by assistant Commissioner of Police Ajitkumar found the old paper sold to a cracker shop, that led to the buyer who is a temple committee member, also working as contract cleaning staff Rajasekaran Nair (50)

- Asian Tribune -