Pistol found in checked-in bag of Dubai-bound flight bag at Lucknow airport; youth detained

Lucknow: A 22‑year‑old man from Gonda dist was detained at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow, when a country‑made pistol was detected in his check‑in luggage at the time of pre-boarding security screening on Friday morning.The passenger was identified as Mahesh Kumar Chauhan, a resident of Chandpur Lakhpatrai village of Mankapur police limits. His boarding pass shows he was booked on the Air India Express flight IX‑193 Lucknow to Dubai departing at 5:45 am with seat number 26B.According to the FIR registered at Sarojini Nagar police station in Lucknow, the incident came to light around 4 am Friday while routine X‑ray screening of checked‑in baggage at the terminal. The security personnel noticed a security restricted item in one of the bags. On physical inspection, the bag was found to contain a 12‑bore country-made pistol.Airport authorities alerted the Sarojini Nagar police, who took Chauhan into custody and seized the firearm. Police said the country‑made pistol was operational and had been concealed inside the hold luggage.Based on a complaint lodged by an airport security supervisor, an FIR was registered at Sarojini Nagar police station under Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act.“During preliminary questioning, Chauhan reportedly failed to give a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of the weapon or the purpose for carrying it while travelling abroad,” Sarojini Nagar police said.Accused passenger was heading to Dubai for a semi-skilled labor job.