M A I N   N E W S

German Sikh alleges humiliation at airport
Prabhjot Singh/TNS

Chandigarh, May 8
For Gurdeep Singh Randhawa, a German of Indian origin and managing director of a multinational German company, his encounter with the security staff at the Frankfurt International Airport early this week was the one he would love to forget.

It happened on May 3 when he was on a business trip to India. Randhawa, a turban-wearing Sikh, says that after booking his baggage, he proceeded to the security counter.

As a law abiding citizen, he put his belongings for security screening before going through the security scanner.

“A security officer took me to a separate cabin for further checks. I followed his instructions. He started touching my turban to which I protested as this kind of treatment was not acceptable. So I advised him to use the metal detector for security screening.

“But he rudely told me that I should not give him any instruction. Ignoring my protests and discomfort, he continued with the check. My turban got loose and I had to hold it with one hand so that it stays on my head.

“Overlooking my distress, he further laid his hands inside my trousers. It became too embarrassing and I shouted should I remove my trousers for this screening.

“As I was in shock and shouting, two officers of the Federal Police came in and gave me a suggestion form. But I thought the entire episode required a complaint and not suggestions. I lodged a formal complaint with the police at the airport with the Federal Police before immigration. The complaint was duly forwarded to the department concerned,” reveals Randhawa.

Yesterday, he visited German Embassy in New Delhi and apprised the officials concerned about his harrowing experience.

This incident not only left him shattered and humiliated but also forced him to encounter racial discrimination that he always refused to believe that it existed in Germany.

“As a German citizen and speaking its language, living there for so many years and knowing everything of the country of my citizenship, I supported German culture and its government. But I am ashamed that this happened in a country which I considered mine,” he rued.