Srinagar, August 5: A Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army has been booked by police in Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly assaulting multiple SpiceJet ground staff members at Srinagar airport last month, in an incident that left at least two employees seriously injured, officials said on Sunday.
The altercation occurred on July 26 after the officer, identified as Lt. Col. Ritesh Kumar Singh, refused to pay excess baggage fees for carrying over twice the cabin baggage allowance, according to a statement from SpiceJet.
“One staff member sustained a spinal fracture, while another suffered a fractured jaw and facial injuries. The officer repeatedly kicked an unconscious staffer and used a queue stand as a weapon,” the airline said, calling the incident a “murderous assault.”
The confrontation took place at Boarding Gate No. 2 minutes before the departure of Flight SG-386 to Delhi. Singh, currently posted at the High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg, was escorted back by a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official after trying to board the flight without completing security protocols.
An FIR has been registered at Budgam police station under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, India’s new criminal code. CCTV footage of the assault has been handed over to authorities.
In a statement, the Indian Army said it had taken note of the incident and was committed to upholding “the highest standards of discipline and conduct,” adding that it would extend full cooperation in the investigation.
SpiceJet has approached the Ministry of Civil Aviation, seeking action against the officer and has initiated steps to place him on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) no-fly list. “Violence against airline employees is unacceptable. We will pursue the matter to its fullest legal and regulatory conclusion,” the airline said.
