The Hindu : Kerala News : Airport director told to submit report

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 03, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Airport director told to submit report

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, NOV. 2. The Chennai Regional Director of Airports Authority of India (AAI) S.K. Saraswati, has asked the Calicut Airport Director, M. Subba Rao, to file a detailed report in connection with the unruly incidents on the Karipur airport premises on Monday.

Highly placed sources told The Hindu here today that Mr. Saraswati had asked Mr. Rao to report whether there were any lapses on the part of the airport authorities in controlling the mob at the airport and whether the State police had given adequate support to the security staff of the airport. The terminal manager, Sanghia Pandian, had been entrusted with the task of preparing the report.

Breach of security

Over 10,000 people had assembled in the airport area to accord a reception to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and Industries Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, on Monday. About 3,500 League activists had laid siege to the airport. Some of them were seen on top of the terminal blocks and the extension of domestic terminal that is still under construction.

The roof of the extension terminal was concreted just two days ago. The cadres also hoisted the party flags at the terminal towers. Had the railings of the terminals collapsed there would have been a major tragedy. All this point out that there was actually a breach of security at the airport, sources said.

Fifteen presspersons who went to cover the programme were brutally manhandled by irate mobs at various places at the airport. Five activists of the All India Democratic Women's Association were also attacked.

Mr. Rao said that it was the responsibility of the State police to take care of the security measures outside the airport.

Police sources said that the police force led by the Malappuram Superintendent, E.J. Jayaraj, had failed to anticipate the large crowd at the airport. Untoward incidents had taken place because the police did not take precautions even after the State Special Branch had given timely warnings.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala