Shooter Manu Bhaker Alleges Mistreatment At Delhi Airport
Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.
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By Slogger
First publised on 2021-02-20 07:30:51
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Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.
View all posts by this Author
Shooter Manu Bhaker was stopped by Air India officials at the IGI Airport in Delhi who refused to allow her to board a flight to Bhopal as she was carrying weapons with her, despite carrying all documents to allow the same as she was a sportsperson. Bhaker alleges that they misbehaved with her, snatched her mobile and more damningly, demanded Rs 10,200 from her to allow her to board the flight with the weapons.
Manu Bhaker took to Twitter to share what happened with her and posted a picture of herself at the Delhi airport, saying: "Not allowing me to board flight AI 437 at IGI Delhi and asking now Rs 10,200. Despite all valid Documentation and DGCA permit. Top of that Manoj Gupta, Air India in-charge, and other staff is humiliating me... despite I have two guns and ammunition. @KirenRijiju @HardeepSPuri waiting sir?"
Bhaker was finally allowed to board the flight after Union minister Kiren Rijiju intervened. Rijiju's post saying "You are India's pride @realmanubhaker" will be of little consolation to Arjuna awardee Bhaker who felt thoroughly insulted after having brought so much glory to the nation through her sporting exploits. She was the youngest shooter to win gold medals at the 2018 ISSF World Cup. We have great expectations from our sportspersons but if we mete out such treatment to them, it will break their morale and they will not be able to perform to potential.
Air India has come out with a rebuttal saying "Dear Ms Bhaker. Our Delhi Airport team has confirmed that the official at our counter had only sought for valid documents as per rules for carriage of your weapon on board. In absence of the same, legitimate specified charges for the arms were conveyed to you. No one sought a 'bribe' as has been alleged. You were issued boarding pass on your assurance of furnishing valid documents before boarding."
There must be an inquiry in the allegations Bhaker has made against Air India officials. If they are found to be true, the officials must be punished. The government must make sure that such incidents are not repeated by issuing guidelines for treatment of sportspersons at all airports. All sportspersons have special needs as they carry a lot of baggage, including sporting gear, when travelling and they should get preference and patient hearing at all airports so that they are not unnecessarily harassed.
