Bengali youth held for trespassing into airport

NEDUMBASSERY: In a major security breach, a Bengali youth trespassed into the air-side of the Kochi airport here by jumping over the compound wall in the wee hours of Wednesday. Later he escaped to the city-side when the CISF personnel tried to nab him.The intruder was identified as Vipin,30. The police, who were alerted on the incident, nabbed Vipin who was hiding at Nayathode about 2 km from the airport around 6 am.The police suspect that the accused suffered fracture in his hand during the trespass bid.Vipin was admitted to the Aluva District Hospital on Wednesday morning.Aluva ASP Rahul K Nair questioned the youth with the help of a migrant labourer from Bengal. Asked whether the accused could be a suspected Maoist or an activist of any terrorist outfits, the ASP said it was too early to comment about his links or intentions.Vipin was later referred to Ernakulam District Hospital for further examination.The youth had jumped over the 8ft tall compound wall topped with a 2fthigh barbed wire near Bay no. 13, to sneak into the air-side.It was the Air India security personnel who noticed a person covered with crude oil all over his body wearing only half pants, sneaking into the air-side around 3.30 am. They immediately informed the CISF personnel who swung into action. But the intruder escaped to the city-side.Airport director A C K Nair told Express that an internal inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The CIAL security wing will submit a report within one week. The CIAL has also informed the matter to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Securities. The CISF has also launched an inquiry into the incident.The Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the national and state investigating agencies have launched a probe into the security lapse.Meanwhile, CIAL sources said that the intruder was a mentally deranged person. It may be recalled that in another incident on November 30, 2009, Abdul Latheef of Valanchirangara managed to enter the airside through the gate for casual labourers. The man could go near an aircraft. Later it was found that Latheef was a mentally deranged person.