Mangaluru: The members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) have alleged harassment of international passengers by staff and customs personnel at the Mangaluru International Airport (MY).
The SDPI delegation that met MIA officials, submitted a memorandum in this regard on Saturday.
Aboobakar Kulai, district president SDPI, Dakshina Kannada, alleged that NRIs from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod district in Kerala use the airport for travelling to Gulf and other countries. In recent years, the passengers who depart and arrive at this airport, are being subjected to harassment and mental abuse, he alleged.
Explaining about various types of harassment, he said that since MIA has direct flights only to Gulf countries, it is a commonplace to buy tickets to travel in a connecting flight from one country to another, however, if a passenger has such air tickets, the personnel demand that the passengers produce the visa of both the countries.
“Officers also complain about errors in the passport. For example, if a passenger has minimum visa validity, they are needlessly subjected to irrelevant questions,” he said. They also make statements like, “You are not eligible to travel abroad”. A first time passenger is looked upon with suspicion and passengers who visit multiple times are questioned on the purpose of travel, he said.
“Those arriving from abroad too are not spared,” the SDPI alleged, adding that they are harassed by being levied fines for bringing used mobile phones, for wearing jewellery, and seizing items like toys and electronic gadgets.
The members also expressed their apprehension on many testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the rapid RT-PCR test, in spite of having negative certificates from ICMR approved labs. “A majority of those who go abroad are blue collar workers who are poor. Such harassment being meted to them is unacceptable,” they said, adding all these incidents have forced several passengers to avoid flying from MIA and going abroad from Bengaluru, Kerala and Mumbai airports.
They demanded to rectify this issue, and allow for a smooth journey of passengers at MIA.
MIA officials were not available for comments.
The SDPI delegation that met MIA officials, submitted a memorandum in this regard on Saturday.
Aboobakar Kulai, district president SDPI, Dakshina Kannada, alleged that NRIs from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod district in Kerala use the airport for travelling to Gulf and other countries. In recent years, the passengers who depart and arrive at this airport, are being subjected to harassment and mental abuse, he alleged.
Explaining about various types of harassment, he said that since MIA has direct flights only to Gulf countries, it is a commonplace to buy tickets to travel in a connecting flight from one country to another, however, if a passenger has such air tickets, the personnel demand that the passengers produce the visa of both the countries.
“Officers also complain about errors in the passport. For example, if a passenger has minimum visa validity, they are needlessly subjected to irrelevant questions,” he said. They also make statements like, “You are not eligible to travel abroad”. A first time passenger is looked upon with suspicion and passengers who visit multiple times are questioned on the purpose of travel, he said.
“Those arriving from abroad too are not spared,” the SDPI alleged, adding that they are harassed by being levied fines for bringing used mobile phones, for wearing jewellery, and seizing items like toys and electronic gadgets.
The members also expressed their apprehension on many testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the rapid RT-PCR test, in spite of having negative certificates from ICMR approved labs. “A majority of those who go abroad are blue collar workers who are poor. Such harassment being meted to them is unacceptable,” they said, adding all these incidents have forced several passengers to avoid flying from MIA and going abroad from Bengaluru, Kerala and Mumbai airports.
They demanded to rectify this issue, and allow for a smooth journey of passengers at MIA.
MIA officials were not available for comments.
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