FIR against Army officer for assaulting SpiceJet staffer over extra luggage row
PTC News Desk: An FIR has been registered against the Army Officer for allegedly assaulting four of its ground staffers at the Srinagar airport on July 26.
Soon after the incident, the airline filed a complaint with the local police following which an FIR was registered. One employee collapsed unconscious on the floor, but the accused continued kicking and hitting him, it said, adding, “Another staff member suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after receiving a forceful kick to the jaw while trying to assist the colleague who had fainted.”
In a statement released on Sunday, an airline spokesperson said, “A passenger grievously assaulted four SpiceJet employees at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi. One of our staffers suffered a spinal fracture while others ended with serious injuries after being attacked with punches, repeated kicks and a queue stand.”
The officer has been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Ritesh Kumar Singh, currently posted at the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg.
According to SpiceJet, Lt. Col. Singh was carrying two cabin bags weighing a total of 16 kg—more than twice the allowed limit of 7 kg. When informed by the ground staff about the excess baggage and asked to pay the applicable charges, he refused and turned violent.
A video of the incident shows the officer attacking airline staff with a steel signboard stand. SpiceJet further stated that he refused to pay the fee and “forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding formalities,” which violated aviation security rules.
- PTC NEWS
