File photo: Karipur International airport
The operations at Karipur International airport in Kerala's Kozhikode resumed this morning after a 10-hour shutdown following clashes between Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and airport authority employees on Wednesday in which one jawan was killed.
The jawan was killed reportedly after an argument with an official of the fire department of Airport Authority of India (AAI). The jawan reportedly asked AAI official Sunny Thomas to undergo security clearance which led to a verbal duel between the two and in the ensuing melee the jawan received gunshot injuries and was killed.
Mr Thomas, however, said he had come to the airport to take an injured colleague to hospital when he was attacked by CISF personnel.
"I was kicked, beaten up... they threatened to shoot," he told television channels.
The Airport Authority Employees' Union (AAEU) claimed that excessive frisking by CISF staff led to clash.
"Though it (checking) is a routine, but today when AAI personnel were entering the airport, apart from normal frisking, they were even asked to open their lunch boxes, this led to some argument and then heated exchange of words," AAEU General Secretary B S Ahlawat told PTI in Delhi.
The runway was blocked by the airport staff following the clashes which led to disruption in flights. It has now been cleared and a flight from Sharjah landed at the airport a short while ago.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said all flights to Kozhikode airport were diverted to Kochi. Kozhikode MP M K Raghavan had sought Centre's intervention in the matter.
There are around 150 AAI staff posted at the airport, of which 40 are with airport fire service.