Two injured as pistol discharges at Varanasi Airport security check

Two airport screeners were injured on Sunday morning when a passenger's licensed firearm accidentally discharged during a security check at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. as the passenger, identified as Kamlesh Kedarnath Rai, was preparing to board an Air India Express flight to Mumbai with his wife.

According to officials, Rai had declared a licensed 7.62 mm pistol and 21 live cartridges at the check-in counter as required. He was then escorted to a designated screening area for mandatory security checks. During the inspection of the weapon, the pistol fired a single round. The projectile struck and injured two cargo screeners employed by AAICLAS, a ground handling company. One injured staff member, Rohit Raj, reported that the passenger first removed the magazine, checked it, and then pressed the trigger, causing the weapon to fire. Another injured screener, Suman Kumari, stated the passenger claimed the gun was unloaded and pressed the trigger to demonstrate it. Raj sustained an injury near the little finger of his left hand, while Kumari was hit in both legs, including the thigh. Both...