Thieves strike Delhi-Mumbai air travellers

New Delhi: Restrictions on carrying handbags on flights mean fliers are forced to check in their baggage, including valuables. This, however, is no guarantee of safety -- not for those who have flown from the Delhi airport, especially on Indian Airlines.
Till recently, a well-knit group of cargo and baggage personnel -- outsourced by the airlines from a firm called Arun Enterprises -- had been slyly opening suitcases and other baggage of passengers and pocketing in valuable items.
After a stream of complaints, the airlines began keeping a tab on their activities. Last week, it was able to lift the lid on the flourishing racket involving "at least eight people" when four of them were caught in the act. Three have since been arrested while one is on the run.
Most complaints came from passengers flying on the Delhi-Mumbai circuit. They found their suitcases had been opened and valuables (gold, cameras, money) had gone missing.
29/08/06 Rahul Singh/Hindustan Times

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