Srinagar: A SpiceJet employee who was allegedly assaulted by an Army officer at Srinagar airport on July 26 has recalled the harrowing incident, saying he was attacked for asking the officer to pay for excess baggage.
Mudassir Ahmed, who sustained a fractured spinal cord in the assault, said the confrontation began when he flagged the officer’s hand baggage during routine checking.
“He hit me in the face. He slapped me and started beating me. He used his daggers and chins to kill me. In the end, he punched me and I fell,” Ahmed said, speaking to the media on Monday.
According to Ahmed, the officer was carrying two bags weighing a total of 16 kg, whereas airline rules permit only one cabin bag of up to 7 kg. “I told him to step aside for checking. As soon as I informed him about the weight and the need to pay for the extra baggage, he started shouting,” he said.
Ahmed added that the officer also pushed Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and entered the boarding gate area. “I called my duty manager. The manager also tried to explain to him, but he refused to listen,” he said.
The incident reportedly involved four SpiceJet employees, all of whom were assaulted. The airline later confirmed the injuries, including spinal and facial fractures.
On Sunday, the Indian Army said it was fully cooperating with the authorities in the investigation. In a statement, the Army said it was aware of the incident and reiterated its commitment to maintaining high standards of discipline.
