DGCA to obtain report on de-boarding of Indian family in UK
New Delhi, Aug 10 : Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has directed the aviation regulator to obtain a detailed report from British Airways over an alleged incident of an Indian passenger and his family being asked to de-board the airline's flight in the UK. "I have directed the DGCA to obtain detailed report from British Airways on the issue," Prabhu tweeted.
The development comes after an Indian passenger, identified as A.P. Pathak a Joint Secretary level officer in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, complained that he and his family were discriminated against on racial lines.
The alleged incident took place on July 23, when the family was travelling from London to Berlin on a British Airways flight. Pathak has also informed the Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu and Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj about the incident.
"After the security announcement was made my wife tied my child to the window seat but he started crying as he was feeling awkward and was a little hungry," he told a news channel.
"Crew member shouted at my child and said I will throw you and your family out of the window." According to Pathak, another Indian family seated behind them "who tried to console the child" was also asked to de-board.
"The plane returned to the airport and the security personnel threatened us, "If you don't come out, we will handcuff you. We were thrown out of the airport."
"I have contacted my lawyers in India and London, he is working on it. If we don't get an apology from the British Airways, and the compensation for the same we will sue British Airways."
"It was totally a racist behaviour." On its part, the airline said that the alleged incident is under investigation.
"We are investigating the complaint and will liaise with our customer," the airline said in a statement on Thursday. "It is a safety requirement for all airlines that passengers are seated and have their seat belt fastened for take-off."
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Ex-Army officer assaulted, robbed at gunpoint by woman he met through matrimonial website
Mathura(UP), Apr 5 (PTI): A retired Army colonel from Haryana has filed a police complaint here, alleging that he was held hostage, assaulted, looted and forced to participate in an "obscene video" at gunpoint with a woman he met through a matrimonial website, police said on Saturday.
The woman from Mathura, who was allegedly in on the plan to rob him, was working with other accomplices, the ex-armyman said in his complaint filed on Thursday.
According to Barsana Station House Officer (SHO) Raj Kamal Singh, Colonel Rajneesh Soni (retired), a resident of Gurugram, reported that he was contacted by a woman from Barsana on a matrimonial website in January. The woman allegedly agreed to marry him, and they began communicating.
The woman allegedly persuaded the colonel to visit Barsana on January 25, requesting that he visit the Radharani temple. When he arrived, she arranged for his stay at a guest house and took him on a tour of the area, including a visit to the temple, the complainant said.
After returning to the guest house, the woman and her accomplices allegedly told the colonel that her brother had been involved in an accident and they needed to leave immediately. They then led him to a waiting car.
"Once outside the town limits, the colonel alleges that he was attacked by the occupants of the car. They seized his phone, physically assaulted him, and forced him to contact relatives and friends to transfer money," the SHO said.
"He was then taken back to the guest house, where he was allegedly forced to participate in obscene videos and photographs at gunpoint. He was threatened that the videos would be made public if he reported the incident," the officer said.
The colonel has alleged that his purse, bag, gold chain, debit card and Rs. 12,000 in cash were stolen from the guest house.
After an unsuccessful attempt at locating the perpetrators himself, the colonel finally reported the incident to the Barsana police two days ago, he said.
"A case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS and all facts are being investigated. Further action will be taken as per facts found in the investigation," the SHO said.
