A gunshot was fired at Varanasi Airport, raising questions: how did a loaded pistol get inside?

A gunshot was fired at Varanasi Airport, raising questions: how did a loaded pistol get inside?

A dangerous incident occurred at Varanasi Airport on Sunday morning, though a major tragedy was narrowly averted. Kamlesh Rai—reportedly associated with the Shiv Sena—was scheduled to fly to Mumbai from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport with his wife on an 11:30 AM Air India Express flight. He was carrying a licensed pistol, which he had previously declared for carriage on the aircraft. The incident took place around 9:30 AM while the pistol was being inspected; during the process, a round accidentally discharged. The bullet first struck the floor and then hit the thigh of a female staff member standing nearby, while shrapnel struck the hand of another employee, Rohit Raj. Both were left bloodied and were immediately hospitalized for treatment. Police arrived following notification from the airport authorities and recovered the pistol along with 21 cartridges from Rai; after approximately five hours of questioning, the Phulpur police took him to the police station.