A man was shot at by security personnel at the Hindon airbase in Uttar Pradesh around 10:30 pm on Tuesday when he tried to slip into the high-security zone, police said on Wednesday.
During questioning, the intruder identified as Sujeet, a resident of Anand Vihar in east Delhi, he revealed to police that someone told him that he could get a good job in Saudi Arabia. So he came to the nearest airbase which is the Hindon Air Force station, said sources. He was preparing "to take a ride" on one of the planes, he told the team probing him. Police officials said he is changing his statement.
Sources indicated that the man seems to be a drug addict and looks mentally deranged. During questioning he answered that he was in search of a place to take meal. This might be his tricks to mislead the investigating agencies, added source.
The 25-year-old has since been admitted to a medical facility at the air base in Sahibabad and is being interrogated by the Indian Air Force officers and the State police.
The IAF intelligence wing is also grilling him and trying to ascertain whether he has any terror links.
“Sujeet was first seen examining a combat jet installed outside the airbase. He then tried to enter through gate number 1. When prevented by the security personnel, he started scaling the boundary wall,” said sources.
Despite several warnings, Sujeet did not stop, said police, adding that the security personnel then shot at Sujeet's leg, rendering him immobile. The security guards were able to overpower and capture him. Sujeet was taken to a military hospital inside the base and police were informed.
A senior State Government official said the accused is originally from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh. "His mobile phone is being screened. Call details are being fetched. A police team is being sent there to get more details," said Anoop Singh, Assistant Superintendent of Police.
Superintendent of Police (City) Aakash Tomar said security has been beefed up and additional forces were deployed in the peripheral areas of the airbase.
The incident assumes significance as the Central intelligence agencies had tipped off the IAF on Sunday that around six leT terrorists might try and sneak into the Hindon air base and mount a Pathankot-style attack.