'He said pistol was unloaded': Injured staff on Varanasi airport firing incident

The two injured cargo screeners Suman Kumari and Rohit Raj

VARANASI: Recalling the moment when a passenger’s pistol accidentally went off during security screening at Varanasi airport, two injured cargo screeners on Sunday described how the weapon was fired and left them injured.Rohit Raj, one of the injured screeners, said the passenger first removed the magazine and checked the pistol before pressing the trigger. The bullet grazed his left-hand finger, leaving it swollen.

"The passenger first removed the magazine and checked it. It was loaded. He then pressed the trigger downwards and the weapon fired. I sustained an injury near the last finger of my left hand and there is some swelling. I am currently at New Laxmi Hospital."The other injured screener, Suman Kumari, said the passenger told them the weapon was unloaded and pressed the trigger while showing it to them."The passenger said the weapon was unloaded and pressed the trigger to show us. The shot was fired while he was showing it to us. The bullet hit me in both legs, including the thigh."The incident took place around 9.30am at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport when 55-year-old Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai, a resident of Azamgarh, arrived with his wife to board Air India Express flight IX-1810 to Mumbai.

Rai had declared his licensed 7.62 mm pistol and 21 live cartridges at the check-in counter before being taken to the designated area for weapons screening.During the inspection, a round was accidentally discharged. The projectile ricocheted and injured Raj and Kumari, both of whom were taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre for treatment. The two screeners were reported to be out of danger.Airport director Puneet Gupta said the passenger had declared the weapon before travelling and that the round was fired during its inspection."During the inspection of the weapon, a round was accidentally fired, injuring two AAICLAS (AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited) screeners," Gupta said.The civil aviation ministry said the passenger was detained for investigation and that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) was examining whether the prescribed procedures for handling and carrying licensed weapons at airports had been followed.The ministry said the incident was brought under control quickly and airport operations continued without disruption. Police have also begun an investigation into the incident.