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Passenger Arrested for Allegedly Uttering "Bomb" During Security Check at Kolkata Airport

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Regal Chongtham, a 26-year-old air passenger from Imphal, was arrested at Kolkata airport on Monday afternoon for allegedly making a bomb-related remark while preparing to board a Mumbai-bound IndiGo flight. The incident triggered a full-scale security alert, delaying flight operations. Chongtham had reportedly grown frustrated during secondary ladder point checking and multiple checks of passengers' baggage and made the remark in Hindi, "Mere paas bomb hai?" (Do I have a bomb?). Security personnel immediately apprehended him, and the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was activated, classifying the situation as "specific."

Key Takeaways:

  • Regal Chongtham, a 26-year-old air passenger from Imphal, was arrested at Kolkata airport for allegedly making a bomb-related remark.
  • The incident triggered a full-scale security alert and delayed flight operations.
  • Chongtham made the remark in Hindi, "Mere paas bomb hai?" (Do I have a bomb?), during secondary ladder point checking.
  • Security personnel immediately apprehended Chongtham and initiated emergency procedures.
  • The Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was activated, and the situation was classified as "specific."
  • The aircraft was moved to an isolation bay for inspection, and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and a sniffer dog unit arrived on the scene.
  • All boarding operations were suspended, and 179 of 186 passengers were de-boarded.
  • Chongtham was taken into custody for questioning and is being probed for the motive behind the statement.
  • Preliminary reports suggest the possibility of a prank or poor judgment, but officials have not ruled out other possibilities.
  • Flight operations resumed after security agencies cleared the aircraft, and no explosive materials were found.

Statistics:

  • 179 passengers out of 186 had boarded the aircraft before being de-boarded.
  • Flight operations were delayed due to the security alert.
  • The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and a sniffer dog unit were promptly deployed to inspect Chongtham's belongings.
  • Chongtham was taken into custody for questioning and is being probed for the motive behind the statement.
  • No explosive materials were found on the aircraft.

Sources:

  • "Passenger Arrested at Kolkata Airport for Allegedly Uttering "Bomb" During Security Check" (Times Content, [no date provided])

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