Officials at the airport, who spoke to Newsline on condition of anonymity, said that CISF men assaulted the terminal manager after he walked past the Security Hold Area (SHA) inside the terminal that was barricaded. According to an official from the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) it was only after the intervention of a passenger that the matter was settled. According to officials, it was the terminal manager’s first day of deputation at terminal 1A of the airport. He was earlier on deputation at the international terminal.

An MIAL official confirmed to Newsline that there was an assault on the terminal manager, Alston D’Mello, and that CISF’s behaviour was “uncalled for”. “We have taken it up strongly with the CISF as there was physical assault,” said the official.

CISF, however, said that the squabble between the two sides took place because the terminal manager did not pay heed to the security personnel even when asked to stop near SHA. “He was deputed at 1A on Thursday and our officers did not recognise him and as his ID was under his tie and could not be seen. We tried to stop him near the SHA that was barricaded but he removed the barricades and walked ahead,” said Sanjay Prakash, senior commandant, CISF. However, he added that in the available surveillance footage the incident could not be seen because of the crowd.