Heated arguments were witnessed at the International Airport in Chennai around Saturday midnight between security and customs department personnel after a customs official, who was not in uniform and his friend were denied entry into the airport.
Normalcy was restored and customs work in the airport, which was affected for about an hour, resumed after airport Manager Srivatsava rushed to the spot and pacified both groups.
Airport sources said that after the customs officer was denied entry by Central Industrial Security Force personnel even after identifying himself a verbal dual broke out amidst claims by both groups that they were manhandled by the other.
Even as other customs officials gathered, CISF personnel also reached the spot and the situation would have gone out of hand but for the arrival of the Airport Manager, who pacified the security personnel and customs officials.