The Hindu : Panic as 'IAF plane' drops fuel in pond

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 04, 2002

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Panic as 'IAF plane' drops fuel in pond

KOLKATA, /SILIGURI, OCT. 3. The sensational report of a foreign plane trespassing into Indian airspace this afternoon could turn out to be a routine sortie by an Indian Airforce MiG which dropped some fuel in a pond of a village in North Dinajpur district of north Bengal.

Official sources in North Dinajpur quoting villagers, however, said the aircraft came from Bangladesh side and dropped explosives, causing a blast. Narayan Ghosh, DIG (headquarters), said tonight the report of a loud explosion-like sound could be because of the aircraft flying at a considerably low height.

As it dropped fuel into the pond, the colour of the water changed to green, a source said. However, despite a thorough search by the police nothing could be recovered from the pond, Mr. Ghosh said. The dropping of fuel into the pond and the flying of the aircraft at a low height created panic, he said.

However, earlier reports, quoting district officials said a foreign aircraft (some villagers said there were two) violated the Indian airspace.

IAF probe

The Indian Air Force said tonight it was investigating reports that an unidentified aircraft had intruded Indian airspace in West Bengal. — UNI

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