A new unverified video has surfaced in the Srinagar SpiceJet airport assault incident, which has lent a new angle to the scuffle. The video that went viral on social media purportedly shows a SpiceJet staff member assaulting the Army official. However, sources told THE WEEK that the “misleading” video has been “cropped” to appear so.
The video shows a white shirt-clad man, probably a SpiceJet staffer, physically assaulting the Army officer, who then turns aggressive.
The incident happened at Srinagar airport last month. According to the statement by SpiceJet, the army officer, who was to board a flight to Delhi, was carrying two pieces of cabin luggage, weighing 16 kg. He refused to pay additional charges for the baggage and forcefully attempted to enter the aerobridge. “He was escorted back to the gate by a CISF official," SpiceJet said in a statement, adding that “at the gate, the passenger grew increasingly aggressive and physically assaulted four members of the SpiceJet ground staff."
Activist Abhijith Iyer Mitra has shared the entire footage on his social media.
Meanwhile, an individual who identifies as an eyewitness posted on X about “one-sided narratives” in this regard. Slamming media, he says the officer was aggressively confronted by SpiceJet staff about his bag’s weight. “He calmly explained and removed items to lighten it, but the staff mocked him, saying, “Aaj army wala fansa hai,” aiming to intimidate or fine him.
The eyewitness claimed that the Army official asked for a senior official, but the SpiceJet staff refused and shut the gates. “A minor scuffle ensued; he was outnumbered, shaken, and visibly injured. Claims he "assaulted" staff are false,” the witness added. He claimed that some sources amplified Spice Jet’s version, and the truth was that an unprofessional airline mistreated a lone, uniformed officer.
The individual has not identified himself. He has also provided no evidence to substantiate his claim.
However, the Army has made no statement about the issue, other than that it was investigating it.
Meanwhile, the SpiceJet employee Mudasir Ahmad Khan, who suffered spinal injuries, said he was targeted for doing his work. Khan said he was hit with a bag and punched till he bled. He alleged that the Army official didn’t let others help him when he fell unconscious in the attack.