The Indira Gandhi International airport went into panic mode in the early hours of Friday after gunshots were reportedly heard.
NEW DELHI: The Indira Gandhi International airport went into panic mode in the early hours of Friday after gunshots were reportedly heard.
The control room of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) received a call around 1.10 am from passengers that they heard gunshots from one of the gates of the international departure lounge of the airport, officials said. There were reports that unidentified men fired two gunshots and escaped in a Toyota Qualis. But by Friday evening, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) said there was no veracity in the reports.
But airport sources said the gunshots were clear and triggered panic at the airport. Passengers, visitors and airline staff ran for cover as security personnel took up position. For the next 40 minutes, it was high-octane drama and passengers were clueless. “It was frightening to hear the gunshots and seeing security personnel rushing to take position,” said an airport official. CISF personnel bundled all passengers inside the terminal building. Those who could not get inside the terminal were told to just lie down on ground.
Airport sources told DNA that the Qualis came from the wrong side of the road, but CISF said it did not. As soon as the Qualis was spotted, the CISF’s Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) chased the car in their Gypsy.
“The QRT Gypsy chased the car till the cargo terminal point but then the distance between the two became too much to cover and it went out of sight,” said DIG, CISF, Udayan Banerjee. During the chase, the QRT commandoes did not open fire and asked for no reinforcement. “A wireless message was flashed immediately to Delhi and Gurgaon police. But till now the car has not traced,” said the officer.
“It is unclear whether those who fired the gunshots escaped in the car or not. But our men took no time in realising that it was a gunshot. It is now for the police to find out the details,” said the officer. He dismissed the possibility of accidental firing.
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