Inquiry ordered into mysterious copter landing

CHENNAI, Nov 14: The Coast Guard has ordered an enqiry into the mysterious and unauthorised landing of its helicopter in the Vellore fort ground yesterday afternoon. It is learnt that Ruchipriya, Assistant Commandant of Coast guard Security, Andaman, had apparently missed a train to Kochi at the Chennai railway station and used the helicopter to catch the train at Katpadi near Vellore.

The State police have sent a detailed, factual report to the Coast Guard today, seeking their explanation for not informing the local police about the sudden landing, which created a furore. Sources said that a white helicopter landed at Vellore around noon, after hovering round the area for sometime. A woman dressed in jeans and a T-Shirt got down from the helicopter and boarded an auto to an undisclosed destination. It was only after a few minutes that the local police got wind of the situation and started making a detailed enquiry. The incident sent shock waves, in view of LTTE detenus being lodged nearby in the Vellorefort area.

Later, the cops came to know that the woman was Ruchipriya, Assistant Commandant of Coast Guard Security, Andaman, and she had boarded the Varanasi-Cochin Express at Katpadi Station in the evening. It is said that she had left to meet her relatives in Kochi. Though initially it was said that she had come to see her relatives in Vellore, it was later revealed that she had missed the train and had come to Katpadi to board it. There is only one helipad outside the Vellore town but it remains unused. It is said that the Vellore police had sent a detailed report to the State police headquarters, which later sent a factual report to the Coast Guard. Police maintained that the Coast Guard had no powers to land their helicopters in the city or town areas.