Man shot at for illegally entering Hindon Airbase

New Delhi: A 25-year-old man was shot at by security personnel when he tried to sneak inside Hindon Airbase, India’s biggest air base in Ghaziabad on Tuesday night.

According to the police, Sujeet Kumar, who hails from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh was shot in the leg when he tried to scale the perimeter wall of the airbase despite warnings.

Mr Kumar has been admitted to hospital. The Indian Air Force (IAF) intelligence wing and the police are questioning him to see if the person had any links with terror groups.

However, the probe team gave a different explanation. During questioning, Mr Kumar said that someone told him that he could get a good job in Saudi Arabia and that’s why he reached the nearest air base. “Mr Kumar said that he was preparing to take a ride on one of the fighters there,” the official said.

Mr Kumar was first spotted around the Hindon Airbase at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday. He was first seen examining a combat jet installed outside the airbase and then tried to enter through Gate No.1 where he was noticed by the security personnel. The police said they had “shoot-at-sight” orders against such attempts and they fired at Mr Kumar’s leg when he ignored their warnings.

Only two days ago, the intelligence agencies had tipped off the IAF that Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists might try and sneak into the Hindon Airbase and mount a Pathankot-style attack.

“His mobile phone, which has been confiscated,  is being screened. Call details are being fetched. A police team is being sent there to get more details,” agencies quoted Anoop Singh, assistant superintendent of police, as saying.

Superintendent of police (city) Aakash Tomar said security had been beefed up and additional forces were deployed near the airbase premises.