Namo Ghat heliport security breach: UP man poses as fake army officer during air show in Varanasi, arrested | Today’s news
A man who disguised himself as an army officer was arrested by police during the recently concluded Indian Air Force ‘Wings over Ganges’ air show at Namo Ghat in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, according to a Bhaskar English report. A man, identified as Arpit Chaturvedi, was loitering in the restricted area on October 24, claiming to be an army official.
The police became alert after receiving information about a suspicious person, prompting them to question them. After hours of questioning, it was discovered that he was impersonating a fake army officer. The police subsequently registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Further investigation revealed that the accused Arpit Chaturvedi is a resident of Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh.
How was the fake army officer caught?
According to an Assam Tribune report, Sub-Inspector Chandan Kumar was posted to Namo Ghat during an air patrol and was performing his duties alongside Head Constable Hriday Narayan Maurya and Constable Mehboob Alam when they received a tip-off about a man behaving suspiciously near the Namo Ghat heliport.
When the police asked Chaturvedi to show his identity card and other official documents to verify that he was an army official, he failed to do so, leading to his arrest.
The police have registered a case No. 0189/2026 against him at the Adampur police station. A case was registered under Sections 204 and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
What happened at the ‘Wings over Ganges’ air show?
The three-day air show, which featured aerial maneuvers by the IAF’s leading display teams, ended on 25 October. The final day, Sunday, witnessed the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, among others.
According to news agency PTI, the parade featured fighter jets including the Sukhoi-30 MKI, indigenous Tejas and LCH Prachand along with helicopter displays.
Three Kiran aircraft flew in a ‘V’ formation and created a spectacle in the colors of the national flag, while Mi-17 helicopters carrying the tricolor took part in the Omkar formation.
The Surya Kiran acrobatic team displayed precision flying and coordinated maneuvers while the Sarang helicopter display team enthralled the audience with their aerial stunts.
Prime Minister Modi’s presence at the event created considerable excitement among the residents and a large number of people gathered on the route from Police Lines to Namo Ghat to welcome the Prime Minister.
BJP workers and local residents greeted PM Modi with rose petals, traditional musical performances and cultural programs at designated places along the route.
