New Delhi, Aug 12: A suspected skull-like object found in the baggage of a passenger at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport triggered a security alert, with the flyer claiming that the object was a monkey skull, officials said on Wednesday.
The passenger was scheduled to travel from Delhi to Hyderabad when Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel detected the object during security screening on Monday, senior officers said.
The object was found concealed inside the passenger’s hand baggage, following which CISF personnel questioned the passenger.
The passenger told the security personnel that the object was the skull of a monkey, the CISF said.
The unusual discovery prompted the CISF to hand over the passenger to the local police amid suspicion that the object could be linked to wildlife smuggling or involve a violation of wildlife protection laws.
Police, however, said it was too early to determine whether any offence had been committed, as the exact nature of the object had not yet been established.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI) Vichitra Veer said the opinion of the wildlife authorities would be crucial in determining what the object was and whether its possession or transportation amounted to a violation of law.
“The opinion of the wildlife department is essential in all such matters, to establish what the object in contention is and whether carrying it amounts to a violation. Legal action, if made out, is taken accordingly,” Veer said.
Police said the wildlife department’s opinion is awaited and further action will be taken based on its assessment of the object and the applicable law.
The case is being examined to establish the nature and origin of the object and whether its possession or transportation attracts any legal provisions.
