Wednesday, December 7 2005 17:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: CISF today (Dec 07, 2005) ordered departmental inquiry into the lathicharge on irate a group of people, who had allegedly blocked the passenger exit at Mumbai airport and were protesting against the decision of the authorities not to allow spiritual leader Narendra Maharaj to carry the sliver mace on board a Lucknow-Mumbai flight, a senior official said.

"A departmental inquiry has been ordered by us to find out the details of the last night's incident, including the lathicharge by CISF jawans on the supporters of Maharaj," a top CISF official told sources.

CISF, which looks after the security of the airport, has also lodged an FIR with the local police at the airport as eight jawans were injured during the scuffle, he said.

Seven jawans were discharged from the hospital after treatment and one is suspected to have sustained fracture, he said.

"The agitation lasted for one and a half hour outside the most sensitive areas of the domestic airport", he said.

The supporters, holding agitation outside the arrival terminal, which also falls in the jurisdiction of the local police, suddenly came to know about the arrival of Maharaj and tried to push through the arrival gate. They were, however, stopped by CISF jawans and local police from entering the sensitive area, the official said.

Due to ongoing renovation at the airport, a single gate being operated for both incoming and outgoing passengers, he said.