This story is from January 22, 2020

Mangaluru: Auto driver, others held for IED scare at MIA

A day after an unattended backpack set off a major scare at Mangalore International Airport, police on Tuesday picked up the driver of an autorickshaw, in which the suspect allegedly took a ride, and many others for questioning.
Mangaluru: Auto driver, others held for IED scare at MIA
CISF personnel on guard at Mangalore International Airport
MANGALURU: A day after an unattended backpack set off a major scare at Mangalore International Airport, police on Tuesday picked up the driver of an autorickshaw, in which the suspect allegedly took a ride, and many others for questioning.
Police sources privy to investigations said the suspect wearing a baseball cap who left the backpack at a ticket counter, about 50 metres from the departure lounge at
MIA on Monday, is said to be an engineering and management graduate.
They claimed he had earlier been arrested for allegedly making bomb-threat calls to Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
A source claimed he reportedly visited a salon near Kenjar, abutting the airport, and received a shave. “Later, the suspect asked the salon owner whether he could keep a bag at the shop. But the owner turned down the request. The autorickshaw driver, who voluntarily approached police after footage showed his vehicle near MIA, said the suspect spoke in Tulu,” a police source said.
Mangaluru City police commissioner PS Harsha said they were investigating whether the suspect was behind the threat call to an Indi-Go flight on Monday, delaying its departure by nearly six hours. The call turned out to be a hoax after intensive security drill. The officer said some citizens have shared with police a few photographs and videos on the incident.
The three police teams formed to investigate the case have fanned out in different directions, including one to Bengaluru. The Mangaluru airport functioned normally on Tuesday.
A team of officers from the National Security Guard and Anti-Terrorism Squad joined the investigations being conducted by police and the Central Industrial Security Force, which is mandated to provide security to the airport.
author
About the Author
Kevin Mendonsa

He has over a decade of experience in writing, reporting, and editing for print media. He is working with The Times of India as a senior correspondent (senior digital content creator) from 2015. He covers education, crime, aviation, lifestyle and other subjects.

End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA