Rahul Gandhi's aide detained by airport security for carrying bullet

Youth Congress leader Anil Dhantori, who came Agartala to oversee Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's programme in Tripura, was Thursday detained by security personnel at the Agartala airport following the recovery of a bullet from his baggage.

Later Dhantori, also a member of the Haryana assembly, was released by the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) without being handed over to the Tripura police.

Dhantori, the Youth Congress (AIYC) general secretary, came to Agartala earlier this week to organise Gandhi's programme in Tripura, was returning to Delhi by a private airline when he was caught by the CISF troopers at the airport after recovery of a pistol bullet from his hand baggage.

"After the detention, the state Congress leaders have rushed to the airport and persuaded the CISF personnel to release Dhantori, also a Haryana assembly member. CISF jawans (troopers) later released him without handing him over to the state police," a senior police officer told reporters.

CISF officers refused to comment about the incident.

Gandhi, accompanied by other party leaders, arrived in Tripura Thursday from Nagaland via Assam's main city of Guwahati.

He addressed several meetings Wednesday in Nagaland and Thursday in Tripura. Gandhi left here for New Delhi later in the evening by a special aircraft.