‘Touched inappropriately, then thanked me…’ How South Korean tourist was sexually harassed at Bengaluru airport

A staffer at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a passenger, a South Korean national, on January 19.

The arrest comes after the woman, who has been identified as Kim Sung Kyung, alleged that she was sexually harassed by the airport staffer, identified as Mohammed Affaan Ahmed. He approached the passenger and asked to see her ticket. Further claiming that there was an issue with her check-in luggage, he insisted that she needed to be checked separately.

Here is what exactly unfolded at the airport.

What happened to the South Korean national?

According to the police, the woman arrived at Terminal 2 of Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on January 19 to board an international flight to her home country.

According to a report by the Times of India, at 10:45 am when she was heading towards the terminal after completing her immigration checks, the accused, 25-year-old Mohammed Affan Ahmed, approached her. He asked to see her ticket, further claiming that there was an issue with her check-in luggage, as a beeping sound was emanating from her bag.

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He allegedly told her that returning to the regular screening area would take time, which would cause her to miss her flight. He then asked her to accompany him for a ‘manual frisking’ and took her near the men’s washroom. He then grabbed at her chest multiple times and asked her to turn around, following which he touched her private parts, reported TOI.

When she objected, he allegedly hugged her, thanked her, and asked her to leave. She told NDTV, “I was freaked out.”

After the incident, she noted that even though the entire episode was traumatic, it did not leave a bad impression on India. “He does not represent the whole country. India is safe enough,” she was quoted as telling India Today.

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“It is a one-off incident, but there’s a power imbalance at airports. Airports need to be safer for women, with a clear and proper process for checks,” Kim added further.

What did the airport authorities do?

The Korean woman immediately filed a complaint with the airport security personnel. They detained Ahmed and alerted police officials present at the airport. The man was later handed over to the police. The whole incident has been captured by airport CCTV.

An FIR has been filed against the staffer under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment. He was arrested, and police verified whether he had any previous records. He was later remanded to judicial custody and has been lodged in Central Jail at Parappana Agrahara. Police said that the man had no authority to physically inspect passengers.

What has been the airport’s response?

Affan was a contract-based ground-handling employee with Air India SATS in Kammanahalli, which handles ground and cargo operations at airports. Air India SATS described the incident as “unpardonable” and said it has sacked Affan.

“An unpardonable incident was reported at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. The employee involved was immediately terminated and handed over to the authorities for further legal action. We deeply regret the emotional distress caused by the incident and have extended all necessary support to the guest. A comprehensive inquiry is underway to strengthen safeguards and prevent any recurrence. AISATS is fully cooperating with the authorities and remains committed to the highest standards of ethics, safety, and compliance,” it said in a statement.

The airport authorities said that frisking and physical checks are conducted only by authorised CISF personnel and, in the case of female passengers, by female staff.

Have other foreigners been harassed in India?

Earlier this week, an American woman said her trip to India had been enjoyable until she experienced sexual harassment on the Delhi Metro, leaving her distressed for days.

The woman said in a social media post that the incident took place at a metro station, where a teenage boy, accompanied by his mother and sister, requested a photograph, to which she agreed.

However, she alleged that the boy then behaved inappropriately and laughed.

In yet another incident, two foreigners were allegedly harassed and “touched without consent” at American rapper Post Malone’s first Indian concert in Guwahati. Guwahati Police said the victims have filed no complaint, but the force is trying to contact the women through their social media platforms for more details about the incident.

With inputs from agencies