Micreants break open air passenger's suitcase, steal Rs 60,000

Chennai, Feb 16 (UNI) Unidentified miscreants broke open the suitcase of a Delhi-bound passenger and stole Rs 60,000 from the room, provided by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) at the link building complex in the airport premises here last evening, official sources today said.

The passenger, Ramakrishnan (50) a Kochi based industrialist, arrived from Coimbatore by a private airliner last night and stayed in a room in the airport premises to catch the early morning flight to Delhi.

This morning, after locking his room, the passenger went to the airport canteen. When he returned to the room, he found his room lock was broken. On examination, his suitcase was also found open and cash amounting to Rs 60,000 was missing.

He approached the AAI's duty Manager Srivatsava and reported the matter, following which the latter advised a police complaint be filed. The passenger them asked the AAI Manager as he was within the AAI premises, why should he go to police,'' and submitted his complaint to the AAI Manager.

Mr Srivatsava forwarded the complaint to the airport police and summoned three of the employees who were on night duty and enquired about the incident.

Protesting this, the other employees of the AAI gheraoed Srivatsava and threatened to resort to a strike unless the AAI Manager withdraw the police complaint.

Realising that the situation was turning worse, Mr Sriviatsava went to the police and said AAI and the passenger would settle the issue by negotiations and expressed his desire to withdraw his complaint.

The police returned the complaint to Mr Srivatsava. Only after the concerned passenger returned from Delhi, there could be a clear picture about this incident, police added.

UNI