SriLankan Airlines Flight from Chennai Searched in Colombo After Tip-Off on Pahalgam Terror Suspect

SriLankan Airlines: With respect to possible identification with a suspect across India, there was a thorough comprehensive search of a Sri Lankan flight arriving in Colombo direct from Tamil Nadu's Chennai, said a press statement from the carrier on Saturday.

However, while no immediate official information was available regarding the wanted person in India, PTI news agency cited Sri Lankan police and said that officers were searching the aircraft from Chennai after receiving an intelligence tip-off about possible onboard presence of a suspect linked to the Jammu and Kashmir Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22.

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The search comes following deep probes into the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the massive manhunt launched to nab the suspects.

According to a statement from SriLankan Airlines, the flight – UL 122 – came to Colombo from Chennai at 11:59 am (local time) on Sunday, as was reported in PTI.

The aircraft underwent meticulous inspection and was subsequently cleared for further operations, SriLankan Airlines said.

It further stated that due to this mandatory security procedure, the next scheduled service, Flight UL 308 to Singapore, is delayed.

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The April 22 Baisaran firing incident in which gunmen opened fire at people in the meadow near Pahalgam town had left 26 people dead, the majority of them tourists.

The suspects in the Pahalgam terrorist attack were sketched and released later and believed to be connected with Pakistan.

On the lines of the "border linkages" of the Pahalgam terror attack, India on the 23rd of April proceeded to downgrade diplomatic ties with Pakistan by way of five major steps including the abrogation of the Indus Water Treaty and also expelling the Pakistani military attaches.

According to yet another government order dated Sunday and issued in the wake of last month's terrorist attack at Pahalgam, the latest action in the tussle between India and Pakistan has resulted in a blanket ban on imports of all goods from Pakistan with immediate effect and on grounds of national security and public policy.

Also Read: Intel Warned of Tourist Attack in Srinagar Days Before Pahalgam Massacre, Officials Reveal