Bengaluru: With just a few days left for Asia’s premier air show, Aero India 2017, a 24-year-old man was arrested by the Yelahanka police for his suspicious behaviour at the Yelahanka Air Base, where the event is to be held. However, investigations revealed that he had no ulterior motive and he would be released soon.
The person is identified as Mamnoon, who hails from Uttar Pradesh. He was hired by the organisers of the event to work as a welder at the Air Base and he had come to the city just a few days ago. The police said that Mamnoon is a daily wage labourer and his behaviour raised suspicion among the Air Force staff on Saturday night around 9 pm.
It is learnt that he was found at a prohibited area on the premises and was speaking to someone over phone. When the staff caught and questioned him, he did not give a convincing answer. The Air Force staff frisked him and found nine SIM cards in his possession. Further, they also found some photos of the air base in his phone’s gallery.
“This raised suspicion about him and an Air Force official formally lodged a complaint with the Yelahanka police, who arrested him based on the complaint. His phone and SIM cards were seized. After a thorough investigation and questioning, it was found that he had no idea that he had entered a prohibited area and was casually speaking to someone over phone. There is no evidence to establish that he was planning something and had hidden motives. However, he is still in our custody and would be released soon,” an official said.
There were reports that he was speaking to a person in Saudi Arabia over the phone. The police, however, ruled that out and said it was not an international call. Further investigations are on.
