THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police today questioned some passengers of the flight allegedly involved in last week’s hijack alarm case, leading to a protest by non-Resident Keralites forum Pravasi Sangham before a police station near the international airport here.
CPI(M) MLA K V Abdul Khadar, who led the protest before Valiyathura police station, said the move to summon six passengers was against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s assurance that they would not be harassed as part of the probe.
Around 200 passengers of Air India’s Kochi bound flight from Abu Dhabi on October 19 protested and some allegedly tried to enter the cockpit after it was diverted to the state capital due to poor visibility.
“When we sought to know from the investigators whether the case against the passengers would be pursued, their reply was that it could be decided only after recording statements from the passengers. This betrayed their arrogance and went against the assurance given by the Chief Minister”, Khadar said.
Reacting to the development, Chandy told reporters today that passengers would not be harassed as part of the probe.
“Police had received a complaint. It is normal for police to investigate and get a complaint. It does not mean passengers would be harassed. The investigation will proceed without causing any harassment to the passengers,” he said.
Kerala Government had set up a special team under Assistant Commissioner K S Vimal to ascertain if there is any substance in the pilot-in command Rupali Wagmore’s charge that she was threatened with dire consequences.
The investigators had asked six passengers, whom they had earlier identified for conduct of the probe, to appear at the police station today and give their statements.
Wagmore had complained to police she was threatened with dire consequences by some passengers after they barged into the cockpit.
Based on Wagmore’s complaint, police had registered a case against six ‘identifiable’ passengers and begun investigation by questioning airport staff who were witness to the drama that unfolded at the airport. Later talking to reporters in Kochi, Chandy said there was “some lapse” on the part of Air India for not properly informing the agitated passengers about the delays leading to the pilot pressing hijack button in panic.
For the first two hours, the passengers did not create any problem. They should have been properly informed about the further delays and the alternative arrangements being made, he said.
Chandy maintained that none of the passengers would be harassed. Since there was a complaint, it was being looked into, he said. -PTI
