NRI passenger beaten up at airport

Mumbai: On Thursday morning, an NRI family of seven had an altercation, which eventually ended in a round of fisticuffs, with some immigration officials, even as police were called in to control the situation. However, both the parties decided not to file a police case.
According to airport sources, the incident took place around 6.15 am when the family that was to board an Air India flight reached the immigration counter with several baggage trolleys. "They had an argument with the airline officials as they had excess baggage. At the immigration counter, they were told to leave their trolleys behind. This incensed the group and one of them started referring to the immigration officials in a derogatory manner using casteist slurs," the sources said.
"The remarks angered an immigration official who, along with his colleagues, held on to the trolleys and told the family that they will not be allowed to board the flight and would be offloaded," said an airport source. One of the passengers then pulled the trolley and in the scuffle that ensued, an immigration officer got hit on his lips. "This triggered a violent reaction and soon a group of officers were ruthlessly beating up one of the family members in full view of others. It was shocking to see a passenger being beaten up like this," the airport source added.
18/01/08 Manju V & Nitasha Natu/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jan 2008, Foreign Jan 2008