A shocking incident of sexual harassment was reported from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, where a 32-year-old South Korean businesswoman was groped by a ground-handling member, authorities said. The accused, Mohammed Affan Ahmed (25), is an Air India SATS employee who has been arrested and sent to judicial custody.
The Pretext of “Manual Frisking”
The incident occurred on Monday, January 19, in the international departure area of Terminal 2. The victim, who had been residing in India on a tourist visa since November, was headed back to South Korea.
According to the police complaint, after she had successfully cleared the standard CISF frisking and immigration checks, Ahmed approached her. He claimed to be airport security personnel and told her that there was a “technical problem” with her checked-in baggage. Apparently, he told her that re-checking the baggage would take too long and offered a way to solve it in a "manual frisking."
Groped Near the Men’s Washroom
Ahmed, the victim claimed, helped her by taking her to a secluded area near the men's washroom. Under the guise of security checks, he allegedly touched her inappropriately repeatedly, including her chest and private parts.
Things came to a strange and very troubling end when the accused hugged her, thanked her for staying and said she was free to leave after the intrusive "search." The incident caused the woman great trauma and she reported it to airport authorities and the KIA police at once.
Action by Police and Investigation
After the complaint, the Airport Police reviewed CCTV footage, which confirmed the woman’s description of being led away by the staffer. Mohammed Affan Ahmed was arrested on Tuesday and has been transported to the Central Jail in Parappana Agrahara.
Ahmed, as a ground-handling staff member, was not authorized by law to physically frisk any passenger, authorities clarified. "In the event of any suspicion, ground staff must notify the CISF or immigration personnel. Also, whenever females are onboard, any female passenger frisking shall be strictly performed by qualified female security officers in specified zones," said a senior airport official.
Air India SATS Response
Air India SATS – the joint venture handling the ground handling – reportedly has taken the matter seriously and is supporting the investigation. The incident has spurred widespread concern about the safety of international travelers and the vetting process used by contractual ground staff at one of India’s busiest airports.
The South Korean consulate has notified the authorities, and the victim has now returned to her home country after taking her statement.
