Kerala CPI-M leader caught with live cartridges

NEW DELHI: Kerala's Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) secretary Pinarayi Vijayan was on Friday held by security personnel at the Chennai airport with five live .38 rifle cartridges in his bag. He clarified that he had carried the bag with the cartridges 'by mistake'.

Vijayan was on his way to Delhi to attend the CPI-M politburo meeting beginning Saturday when he was held.

Speaking on phone from Chennai, Vijayan said: "I had to renew my licence for the rifle and I sent it to the district magistrate at Kannur (Kerala) for submitting, I took out the cartridges and put it in the bag which I was carrying, and it was carried to the airport by mistake."

The Central Industrial Security Force personnel at Chennai airport let him off after receiving a faxed copy of his rifle licence.

Vijayan missed the flight and will leave for Delhi Saturday, Left sources said in Delhi.