A day after TOI reported alleged misbehaviour with a para-athlete at
Indira Gandhi International Airport by an immigration officer, the
authorities have suspended him and initiated a departmental inquiry.
Pradeep Raj, an international athlete with disability and a national youth awardee from the President of India, alleged misbehaviour by the security official at immigration counter 41 (reserved for the disabled) on September 22, 2014. He was travelling to South Korea for an international meet on disability.
Raj, in his complaint to the ministry of home affairs, Bureau of Immigration and Court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, alleged that the official was not satisfied with his medical certificate, wanted to know his specific disability and humiliated him.
IB Rani, DCP, (Foreigner Regional Registration Office), said, "The department has suspended the officer, who at the rank of a sub-inspector, and a departmental inquiry has been instituted."
Raj alleged that the officer asked him to move to another counter saying "Langdakar chalne se koi handicap nahi ho jata. Doosri line mein ja (Walking with a limp does not make you a handicapped person. Move to the general queue)." He further humiliated him by asking "Where did you get the medical certificate from and how much did you pay for it?"
Sources said, apart from inquiry, the department is also taking measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated at IGI. This includes sensitization of officials handling disabled people. Moreover, to ascertain the allegations, sources said that CCTV footage will be scanned and Raj's and the suspended officer's statements will be taken. Other officers present on duty when the incident happened will also be quizzed.
Source : TOI , 2nd Oct 2014
Pradeep Raj, an international athlete with disability and a national youth awardee from the President of India, alleged misbehaviour by the security official at immigration counter 41 (reserved for the disabled) on September 22, 2014. He was travelling to South Korea for an international meet on disability.
Raj, in his complaint to the ministry of home affairs, Bureau of Immigration and Court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, alleged that the official was not satisfied with his medical certificate, wanted to know his specific disability and humiliated him.
IB Rani, DCP, (Foreigner Regional Registration Office), said, "The department has suspended the officer, who at the rank of a sub-inspector, and a departmental inquiry has been instituted."
Raj alleged that the officer asked him to move to another counter saying "Langdakar chalne se koi handicap nahi ho jata. Doosri line mein ja (Walking with a limp does not make you a handicapped person. Move to the general queue)." He further humiliated him by asking "Where did you get the medical certificate from and how much did you pay for it?"
Sources said, apart from inquiry, the department is also taking measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated at IGI. This includes sensitization of officials handling disabled people. Moreover, to ascertain the allegations, sources said that CCTV footage will be scanned and Raj's and the suspended officer's statements will be taken. Other officers present on duty when the incident happened will also be quizzed.
Source : TOI , 2nd Oct 2014
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