Cloth merchant, associate held for bomb hoax at Bengaluru airport

The Airport Police on Wednesday arrested a 52-year-old cloth merchant and his associate for allegedly creating panic in the check-in area by falsely claiming that they were carrying a bomb in their luggage.

The accused has been identified as Abu Aqeel Azhar Chad, a resident of Wilson Garden. He and his friend were travelling to Ahmedabad on a business trip and were undergoing security checks at the airport.

The police said that owing to tight security arrangements in view of Republic Day, multiple checks were being conducted, which led to an argument between the duo and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. During the altercation, the accused questioned the repeated checks and allegedly mockingly told the security staff that they were carrying two small bombs in their bag.

Despite being warned by security personnel not to use such language, the duo allegedly continued to make the statement, triggering panic among other passengers in the check-in area. The CISF personnel immediately detained them and handed them over to the airport police for further action.

Based on a complaint by an airline staff member, the police registered a case under Section 125 (acts endangering human life or personal safety) and Section 351(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The accused were questioned and later released on station bail, the police said.