Heavy security lapse at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport: Passenger allowed to travel despite discovery of gun in luggage

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Controversy after a gun was found in a passenger's luggage, but he was still allowed to travel without taking any action.

The gun was found in the luggage of an Australian national who had arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the 11th of this month to board a Singapore Airlines flight. The Indian national had recently acquired Australian citizenship. The airport management had engaged employees of a private company to assist the CISF, which is in charge of airport security. It was one of the employees of the private company who informed the CISF authorities about finding a gun in the luggage.

However, the gun was seized, and the man was allowed to travel after saying that it was an old gun. The discovery of bullets, firearms, or other gun-like items in a passenger's possession typically leads to the individual's travel being stopped and their detention by local police. The controversy arose after intelligence agencies reported to higher authorities that the passenger was allowed to travel without reporting the discovery of the gun. In addition to the central intelligence agencies, the state police have also received information about the incident.

The airport security task, which was handled by the state police in Thiruvananthapuram, was handed over to the CISF following the Kandahar plane hijacking in 2000. The security of the terminal building, operation area and aircraft at the airport is currently provided by the CISF.

Sujith, an employee of a private contract company at the airport, was transporting sewage waste in his vehicle when he was stopped for a security check. He had a packet containing bananas and other fruits in his vehicle. When a CISF officer asked him what was in the packet, Sujith responded in a "jocular manner" that "banana is not a bomb". Sujith was arrested by the Valiyathura police for causing a security scare at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for his 'joke'.