A-I official among 4 held for acid attack on security officer

Thiruvananthapuram, August 14 : A senior Air India official and three others were on Wednesday arrested in connection with the acid attack on S S Batave, Air India’s security officer at Thiruvananthapuram airport, on April 4.

The arrested, Air India airport manager T Rajeswaran, Universal Aviation Services (UAS) assistant manager Ashok Kumar V S, former UAS employee Santosh and his friend Shojan, were remanded in judicial custody.

Following the arrest, Air India has suspended T Rajeswaran. UAS has been handling the loading and unloading activities at the airport for the past several years, after Air India outsourced the work to the firm.

Batave had taken stern actions against certain unlawful activities of Rajeswaran and Ashok Kumar. The officer had also reported to the higher authorities the lapses on the part of Rajeswaran during a bomb threat at the airport and prevented the move by the latter to issue permanent airport entry pass to Ashok Kumar.

Rajeswaran and Ashok Kumar had planned the attack, while Santosh and Shojan executed the plan. The accused would be charged for attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy, said Police Commissioner Ravada Chandrasekhar.