South Korean Businesswoman Allegedly Molested at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport
A disturbing case of alleged sexual harassment involving a South Korean national has been reported at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, raising serious concerns about passenger safety and security protocols at one of India's busiest airports.
Incident Details and Allegations
The 32-year-old businesswoman from South Korea was reportedly returning to her home country on January 19 after visiting India on a tourist visa. According to police reports, the incident occurred in the international departure area of Terminal 2 around 10:45 AM, after the woman had already completed her CISF security checks and immigration formalities.
The accused, identified as a 25-year-old ground staff employee, allegedly approached the woman claiming there was an issue with her checked-in baggage. He reportedly suggested that resolving the matter would take considerable time and proposed a "manual frisking" as an alternative solution.
Violation of Security Protocols
Airport authorities have confirmed that the accused had no authority whatsoever to conduct frisking procedures. According to established security protocols at Indian airports:
- All security frisking must be conducted exclusively by authorized CISF personnel
- Female passengers can only be frisked by female security staff
- Any deviation from these protocols constitutes a serious breach of security guidelines
The accused allegedly took the woman near a men's washroom area, where he reportedly touched her chest multiple times under the pretext of frisking. When the woman objected to his actions, he allegedly proceeded to touch her private parts before hugging her, thanking her, and asking her to leave the area.
Immediate Response and Legal Action
The woman immediately reported the incident to airport authorities, who promptly detained the accused staff member. The Kempegowda International Airport Police have registered a case under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and arrested the accused, who has been sent to judicial custody.
CCTV footage from the airport reportedly supports the woman's statement, according to ANI reports. The airline employing the accused staff member has taken strong disciplinary action, including his removal from the position.
Recent Similar Incident in Delhi
This incident follows another reported case of sexual harassment involving a foreign national earlier this week. An American woman shared her experience of being harassed on the Delhi Metro, where she alleged that a teenage boy accompanied by his mother and sister grabbed her breasts and spanked her buttocks after asking for a photograph.
Shockingly, the boy's mother defended his actions, claiming he was merely "curious" because he had never encountered a blonde woman before. This response has sparked discussions about parenting attitudes and public safety for women, particularly foreign visitors, in India.
Broader Implications for Tourism and Security
These back-to-back incidents involving foreign nationals have raised significant concerns about:
- The safety of women travelers in India's public spaces and transportation hubs
- The effectiveness of security protocols at critical infrastructure like airports
- The potential impact on India's tourism industry and international reputation
- The need for stricter enforcement of existing security measures and protocols
Airport authorities have emphasized that such incidents are taken with utmost seriousness and that comprehensive measures are being reviewed to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The case continues to be investigated by Bengaluru police, with further developments expected as the legal process unfolds.
