New Delhi: Two years after announcing that CISF personnel will no longer carry out the “humiliating” drill of asking people with disabilities (PwDs) to remove their prosthetics or make them get up from their wheelchairs for screening, the practice still seems to continue at IGI Airport. Rohit Anotra, a wheelchair-bound cricket player flying to Jammu & Kashmir, claimed he faced this humiliation on Sunday.
Anotra was flying for a camp for wheelchair-bound cricketers from Terminal-2. He alleged that a CISF personnel asked him to remove his prosthetic limb on the right leg during a security check.
Describing the incident as a demeaning experience, Anotra said this was the first time he has had to remove his prosthetic. “My right leg is amputated just above the knee. I have travelled to several countries and other states in India, but this has never happened to me. After a physical check using a handheld device, the CISF personnel asked me to remove my prosthetic leg as a part of the security screening,” he added.
Disabled rights activist Pradeep Raj, who was also travelling with Anotra, and another member of the team said they found out about the incident when they reached the waiting area. “Had I known this was happening, we would have protested much earlier. We will be writing to the authorities. It is sad to know that despite assurances in the past, PwDs are still being asked to remove their artificial limbs. Why is Bureau of Civil Aviation Security not implementing the special operating procedure for screening travellers with prosthetics? How long will we continue to face harassment?” asked Raj.
05/08/19 Jasjeev Gandhiok/Times of India
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Anotra was flying for a camp for wheelchair-bound cricketers from Terminal-2. He alleged that a CISF personnel asked him to remove his prosthetic limb on the right leg during a security check.
Describing the incident as a demeaning experience, Anotra said this was the first time he has had to remove his prosthetic. “My right leg is amputated just above the knee. I have travelled to several countries and other states in India, but this has never happened to me. After a physical check using a handheld device, the CISF personnel asked me to remove my prosthetic leg as a part of the security screening,” he added.
Disabled rights activist Pradeep Raj, who was also travelling with Anotra, and another member of the team said they found out about the incident when they reached the waiting area. “Had I known this was happening, we would have protested much earlier. We will be writing to the authorities. It is sad to know that despite assurances in the past, PwDs are still being asked to remove their artificial limbs. Why is Bureau of Civil Aviation Security not implementing the special operating procedure for screening travellers with prosthetics? How long will we continue to face harassment?” asked Raj.
05/08/19 Jasjeev Gandhiok/Times of India
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