Sri Lankan Tamil held in Chennai

A Colombo-bound Sri Lankan Tamil who managed to escape after security officials discovered a brick concealed in the baggage at the airport here on Friday has been arrested, police said today.

Abdul Hamid (42) had come to the airport on Friday alongwith another person, Mohammed Bashir, to board a flight to Colombo.

Both were detained by the CISF personnel for questioning after the brick was found in one of their suitcases during a scan of the baggage. However, Hamid managed to escape while Bashir was handed over to police.

Airport police said Hamid was arrested last night from a house in the city and was being questioned. 

He told police that they were taking emtpry cartons which were in demand in Sri Lanka and had kept the brick to add weight to the suitcase. 

However, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) sources said they suspected this could be a dry run by the duo for some illegal activity.

Meanwhile, two unclaimed baggages found near the international and domestic terminals kept the security officials busy today.

Bomb detection and disposal squad of BCAS conducted checks of the baggage and cleared them of any danger. 

The bag found near the domestic terminal contained some
sandalwood garlands and a pen knife while the other in the car
park outside international departure had some dry fish and
eatables. Police suspect that passengers or their relatives
could have left behind the bags.

Security at the airport has been beefed up in view of the arrival of delegates for the five-day World Classical Tamil conference to be held in Coimbatore from June 23.