CISF man's suicide exposes lapse

CHENNAI: The October 29 incident of a CISF constable shooting himself dead with his service rifle in a toilet of security hold area, a sterile zone, has revealed a security lapse.
He was on duty in the apron with his rifle and then went with it to the security hold, where passengers board planes. Here weapons are banned. CISF personnel are armed on duty on the apron and at the entry gate of city-side of the terminals.
As per the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security rules for aerodrome security, uniformed personnel are not allowed with guns into the sterile area unless there is a pre-approved exemption.
Pulak Rajbongshi, the constable, entered the terminal from the apron and walked to the ground floor toilet of the bus lounge with his weapon.
An Airports Authority of India official said the constable should have handed over the rifle to a colleague before entering the terminal. "It is not that there should be a blanket ban on weapons but the incident shows rules are not followed. Security hold is declared sterile so that nobody, including law-enforcers, will be able to sabotage aircraft."
He said there was a chance for security personnel to create mischief. "He can hand over bullets or guns to passengers who can be harmful to the aircraft security."
Airport director Deepak Shastri denied there was a security lapse. "CISF personnel are allowed in the security hold with weapons because they may have to intervene if someone tries to create trouble. The toilet in the bus lounge is designated for CISF personnel on duty in apron. Rules say personnel should keep their weapons with them and hand them over at the end of duty," he added.