Fortress Delhi, airport scare

The incident was reported from near gate number 4 of the international departure lounge at 1.10 am. But officials from CISF, which is in charge of airport security along with the Delhi Police, said there is still no evidence to suggest it was firing.

Some CISF officials present on the spot and staff of Knight Watch, the security agency employed by the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), said they saw a white Qualis car with a Haryana registration number speed away immediately after the “shots”.

But DIG, CISF, Udayan Banerjee said, “Till now there is nothing to prove it was a gunshot but some of our officials reported hearing (sounds of) firing. There was no injury or casualty and we did not find any bullet shells, bullet marks or guns from the airport. No one also reported seeing anyone firing.

“The Qualis apparently sped away when our men were checking each and every vehicle and had had asked the driver to stop.”

According to officials, a police Gypsy gave the car a chase but lost trail soon.

Leena Vashist, an employee with Asiana Airlines, said, “Immediately after the sound of gunfire an announcement was made, asking us to lie down flat.” Passengers and relatives outside and in the terminal, numbering approximately 400, hit the floor immediately; some hid behind walls and pillars.

Lights off, lying flat
While lights inside the airport were reportedly switched off and boarding was closed, the CISF’s Quick Reaction Team and Delhi Police officials began a thorough check of the whole premises, as also of all vehicles, which lasted about an hour.
“At about 2.15 am, CISF announced that everything was all right and that there was no reason to panic,” Praveen Bhardwaj, of Emirates Airlines, said.
Each piece of baggage was thereafter checked with bomb detection machines and individuals were thoroughly frisked. Police investigators said they were not certain about the nature of the “sounds”.
After a few hours of search, the police found firecrackers stacked in a Maruti SX-4 car in the airport’s premium parking lot. But the car owner told the police that the firecrackers were remnants of the ones he had carried to a wedding on Thursday night.
He was let off after interrogation.
Soon, passengers were allowed to enter the airport. Parmeet Singh, relative of a passenger said: “Though we were all checked, it is quite easy for anyone to come to the airport in a car with arms. The access is easy because there is only one picket.”

CISF lodges FIR
But despite the DGCA’s contention that there’s no evidence of any firing, an FIR was lodged at IGI International Police Station on Friday. After preliminary investigations, the police claim to have found “certain clues about the assailants”.
The FIR does not mention Sections related to explosives, or any terrorist activity. Sources said it has been lodged against unknown persons under Sections related to the use of firearms, the Arms Act, endangering public life, and not adhering to a public servant’s orders (relates to car driver fleeing despite being asked to stop).
The CISF is complainant in the FIR and it has reported the incident on basis of gunshots. This is in contrast to claims made by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in a media release today, saying “there is no veracity of the incident of firing”.
“It seems shots were fired from a 9-mm pistol, not from rifle,” a top police source said. “The smell of gunpowder in air also proves the shots were fired.” The police refused to divulge more details about the incident. Sources said Gurgaon police found a white car abandoned a few hours after the incident and are examining it. They added that investigators are also examining some CCTV footage.