A Bengaluru airport staffer has been arrested after a foreign woman passenger alleged sexual harassment during an unauthorised check at Terminal 2. Police have sent the accused to custody.
Kempegowda International Airport, where police said the incident involving a foreign passenger was reported. | IANS
A staff member at Bengaluru’s international airport has been arrested after a Korean woman accused him of sexually harassing her while posing as a security official.
The incident took place at Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport. Police said the accused misused his position and falsely claimed to be conducting a security check.
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The woman had completed all mandatory security and immigration formalities. She was preparing to board a flight back to South Korea when the incident occurred.
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According to the police complaint, the incident took place on January 19.
After the CISF and immigration checks were over, the accused approached the woman and introduced himself as an airport staffer. He told her that a “beeping sound” had been detected from her luggage.
Police said he claimed that a regular security check would delay her flight. Using this excuse, he took her aside near the men’s restroom and insisted on a private check.
Investigators said the man was not authorised to conduct frisking or personal checks.
During the alleged manual check, the woman told police that the accused touched her private parts, hugged her tightly and touched her chest multiple times. She said he asked her to turn around and again touched her private parts.
When she resisted, the accused left the spot. Police said he allegedly said “thank you” before walking away.
Realising that the man was not an official, the woman sought help from Singapore Airlines and Air India staff at the airport. They assisted her in approaching the police.
Based on CCTV footage, airport police identified and apprehended the accused within about 20 minutes of the complaint being lodged.
The accused has been identified as Afan Ahmed, also referred to in police records as Mohhamed Affann Ahamed, a 25-year-old resident of Kammanahalli.
Police said the woman had arrived in India on a tourist visa in November and was returning to South Korea at the time of the incident.
An FIR has been registered at the Kempegowda International Airport police station. The accused has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Further investigation is ongoing.
Speaking about the incident, the woman said, “It is not the whole of India. It is just an incident. It is someone whose morals are totally wrong. He doesn’t represent the whole of India. The system is getting better, though.”
She also pointed to the wider issue of power imbalance during airport security checks. She stressed the need for professional conduct, including checks being carried out by women officials who clearly introduce themselves and explain procedures.
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