Hostage crisis ends at Mumbai airport

The hostage crisis at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, ended early Sunday morning when the Central Industrial Security Force constable, Raj Namdeo, holding six colleagues hostage surrendered to the police.

He gave himself up after the authorities agreed to 'sympathetically' consider his grievances and demands, police officials said. None of the hostages were harmed. The police later arrested Namdeo.

Earlier on Saturday evening, Namdeo had shot dead his deputy commandant, Karandekar, and took six hostage, including five women.

He was apparently angry at being refused leave by Karandekar. Airport sources told rediff.com that there was an altercation between the deputy commandant and Namdeo after which the constable fired at his superior officer at around 1830 hours IST.

Airport director Sudhir Kumar told rediff.com that the commandant was taken to the Nanavati Hospital, but succumbed on the way.

The incident took place in the boarding area of Terminal 2C and the hostages were being held there.

Commandos had been asked to remain on standby.