Airport on alert after 'tip-off' about Varansi blast conspirator

Security at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport sprung into action on Saturday evening after the police received a call about a Varanasi bomb blast conspirator being present there. HT reports.

Security at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport sprung into action on Saturday evening after the police received a call about a Varanasi bomb blast conspirator being present there.

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The police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials searched the airport and detained one person. However, following the interrogation, they could not find any link between the passenger and the blast.

Police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal said, "There was an anonymous call received by CISF at the international airport in which the caller said a Varanasi blast conspirator was present at the airport. He is being interrogated, however so far nothing incriminating has been found."

The Sahar police said they received an anonymous call that one of the fliers was a man who was allegedly involved in the Varanasi blast that took place on December 7.

The police alerted the airport authorities. The CISF officials and the immigration authorities detained Sohaib Nadeem Siddique, 38, whose name was similar to the call input.

Following the interrogation, it was revealed that Siddique, is a resident of Mumbra in Thane district, and was to take the Emirates flight to Bahrain with his family.

The official added that Siddique has been working in Bahrain for the last seven years and was returning after a brief visit to India.