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Declared pistol discharges at Varanasi airport screening
The Hindu··17 Aug
Two AAICLAS screeners were injured at Varanasi airport around 9.30 am on 16 August when a passenger's licensed pistol discharged during a weapons check. Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai, flying with his wife on Air India Express IX-1810 to Mumbai, had declared the firearm. Airport director Puneet Gupta said police were informed. Both staff were taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre.
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What It Means For You
- If you fly with a licensed firearm, Varanasi's case shows a declared 7.62 mm pistol still discharged at the screening table and injured two cargo screeners.
- Airport staff who handle declared weapons can see Suman Kumari and Rohit Raj taken to New Laxmi Trauma Centre after a ricochet during IX-1810's check.
- Passengers on the Mumbai flight can note the airport statement timed the incident at about 9.30 am on 16 August and said an investigation is underway.
What's Happening
- Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai declared a pistol before Air India Express IX-1810 from Varanasi to Mumbai on 16 August 2026.
- During the weapons check a round discharged, ricocheted, and injured two AAICLAS screeners, who were hospitalised.
- Police detained Rai and said an FIR would cite negligent acts causing hurt under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Permit, Cartridges And The Screening Bench
- Civil Aviation figures put 21 live cartridges with the pistol; Uttar Pradesh police also referred to 22 cartridges in one briefing.
- Rai's son Ritesh is a BMC corporator from ward 86 for Shiv Sena (Shinde), and Rai was on bail in a 2025 Mumbai extortion case.
- The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is reviewing adherence to rules for carriage of licensed weapons at airports.
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