Mumbai Mirror

Mumbai, Oct 11: A man used a peepal tree near the boundary wall of the domestic terminal of the Mumbai airport to get inside. He then entered a parked Indian aircraft despite a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guard being posted very close to the plane. CISF later suspended the guard for his negligence.

The incident occured on October 6. Namdev Patel, 20, lives in the slums close to the airport.

“Around 5.15 am, Patel jumped inside the boundary wall near gate number 9 of Santacruz terminal. He took the help of a peepal tree inside the wall,” said an airport official on condition of anonymity.

“However, we cannot cut the tree as it is considered sacred by many people,” added the official.

Patel entered the area where planes are parked near terminal 1A. He walked towards an Indian aircraft parked at bay number 24A.

“He was on the ladder point when an airline official caught him,” said the source.

Patel was caught around 6.40 am and handed over to CISF. “I am sure while Patel walked towards the aircraft, the guard must have seen him,” said a CISF source.

Sanjay Prakash, senior commandant, CISF, confirmed the incident. “It happened because of the negligence of the guard. We have suspended him,” said Prakash.

CISF handed over Patel to the Santacruz airport police station. They booked him under Section 120 of the Bombay Police Act.

Patel was produced before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate on the same day. He was let off after a warning.