A passenger travelling from Varanasi to Mumbai was involved in an accidental firing incident at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport on Sunday morning after a round was discharged while his licensed firearm was being inspected. Two AAICLAS security screeners were injured.
The passenger, identified as Kamlesh Rai from Azamgarh, was travelling with his wife on Air India Express flight IX-1810. Airport authorities said the incident occurred around 9.30 am after Rai declared the weapon for carriage.
The injured screeners were taken to a private hospital for treatment. Police said one suffered an injury to the leg, while the other was hurt on the thumb.
Has Kamlesh Rai been arrested?
As of Sunday afternoon, there was no official confirmation of Rai's arrest. Airport authorities said police had been informed and an investigation was underway.
The probe is expected to establish how the firearm was handled during the security inspection and whether the weapon was being carried in accordance with the applicable rules.
A valid firearm licence does not, by itself, rule out legal action. The circumstances surrounding the discharge and any possible violation of licence conditions or security requirements will be examined as part of the investigation.
Can passengers carry licensed guns on flights?
Passengers can carry certain licensed firearms and ammunition on domestic flights, but only after meeting strict conditions.
Firearms cannot be carried in the cabin or on a passenger's person. They have to be declared at the airline's check-in counter and transported in checked baggage after the required verification.
The weapon must be unloaded and packed separately from ammunition. The ammunition also needs to be securely packed.
Air India Express permits bona fide passengers to carry one licensed revolver, pistol or shotgun with cartridges, subject to applicable requirements. Its conditions also prescribe a maximum gross weight of 5 kg for such carriage.
Passengers have to make an oral declaration and subsequently submit a written declaration during the check-in and baggage-screening process. A valid firearm licence or authorisation and other required documents must also be produced.
What can happen to the gun licence?
Rai's firearm licence could come under scrutiny depending on the findings of the investigation.
Under Section 17 of the Arms Act, 1959, the licensing authority can suspend or revoke a licence in specified circumstances, including where possession of a firearm is considered unsafe or where a licence condition has been breached.
However, an accidental discharge does not automatically mean that the licence will be cancelled. Authorities would first have to determine whether there was a violation or whether continued possession of the firearm poses a public-safety concern.
Could he face a criminal case?
If investigators establish that a provision of the Arms Act or Arms Rules, or a licence condition, was violated, criminal proceedings could follow depending on the circumstances.
Section 30 of the Arms Act provides for imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to ₹2,000, or both, for certain violations where no separate punishment is prescribed.
For now, however, the exact legal consequences will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.