New Delhi(PTI): In a major security breach at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, a British national who arrived from Bangkok allegedly fled the immigration area and escaped into the city, prompting a massive search operation, police said on Friday.

The incident occurred on October 28 when the passenger, identified as Fitz Patrick, a British citizen, arrived in Delhi from Bangkok, they said.

Patrick was scheduled to be deported to the United Kingdom via Thailand, but managed to evade authorities after landing in Delhi. He allegedly escaped from the immigration area and left the airport premises before being formally processed, police said.

"A security lapse was reported at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after a British national, who was to be deported to the UK via Thailand, escaped from the immigration area and entered the city. Delhi Police and security agencies have launched a search operation and filed an FIR while questioning airline staff," a senior police officer said.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for airport security, along with the Bureau of Immigration and Delhi Police, has launched a coordinated effort to locate the fugitive.

Airport CCTV footage is being scanned to determine the sequence of events and identify possible lapses that led to the escape, officials said.

A case has been registered under relevant sections at the local police station, and teams have been deployed to search for possible hideouts and exit points in the National Capital Region (NCR), they said.

Further details regarding the passenger's motive, background, and current whereabouts are being verified, the officer added.

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Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.

In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.

Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.

Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.

According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.

He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.

He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.

Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.

He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.

Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.

He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.