DNA Web Exclusive: In Delhi airport horror, AISATS staff member assaults foreign national at Terminal 1D

In a shocking incident that was reported out of Terminal 1D of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, a foreign national visiting India was assaulted by a staff member of the Air India Singapore Airport Terminal Services (AISATS) on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident took place at Terminal 1D, which is also the departure terminal where this reporter was an eyewitness.

The assault was the fallout of an argument between the foreign national who is travelling through India along with her friend, and an AISATS staff member. The identity and the nationality of the victim could not be determined.

According to the victim, the young woman who mans the Air India ticket counter at Terminal 1D reportedly overcharged her for a ticket, which led to a heated argument. Another eyewitness, who identifies only as Gayatri, and was able to hear the argument, told DNA that the victim, who is an old woman, sought an explanation for “stealing her money”, and clicked the staff’s picture after she did not get an appropriate reply.

“I was watching the entire drama unfold in front of my eyes. The staff member came out and demanded her photograph to be deleted from the phone. When the old woman refused, she started pushing her,” said Gayatri.

The staff then followed the victim as she walked towards the exit, all the while pulling the passenger’s handbag. The staff then brutally assaulted the foreign national. She was slapped, shoved and pushed by the staff even as her other colleagues, as well as CISF personnel refused to intervene.

It was only when another traveller intervened, that the woman could be rescued. She had sustained injuries on her hands and her spectacles were also broken. The friend who was accompanying her, too pleaded the staff not to hit the old woman.

“She stole my money. She stole my money,” the victim kept on repeating as she was taken away by the friend, injured and bleeding. By the time cops arrived, the duo was gone.

“The foreign national had come to the police station and she was taken for a medical examination as well. She had a minor injury on her hand. She was drafting her complaint, but left mid-way all of a sudden," said a senior Delhi Police official. The officer further stated, "She did not leave any contact details. We made a diary entry under section 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt)." 

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for AISATS claimed that it was the passenger who first kicked the staff. On being asked whether she entered the enclosure where the staff was sitting to assault her, the official could not establish the chain of events. The official also maintained that the staff “only pushed her in self defence and they were examining the CCTV footage”. However, the official agreed that there was some issue over money.

In an official statement released on Thursday afternoon, the company said, “At AISATS we adhere to the highest standards of passenger service and our employees are inducted to follow a strict professional code of conduct at the workplace. We regret the distress caused to the passenger. While we await the completion of the internal inquiry, the said staff member has been placed under immediate suspension. We will continue to cooperate with the concerned authorities in their investigation.

Ironically, AISATS was established as part of the Government of India’s initiative to ‘upgrade airports to world-class facilities and attract more airlines to fly into India, AISATS was formed with the vision to provide world-class airport services in ground and cargo handling that exceed customers’ expectations.’