A 24-year-old man's journey to Mumbai took a dramatic and disruptive turn at Bareilly's airport on Tuesday, culminating in his arrest after he allegedly created a major disturbance during the security screening process. The cause of the commotion was a palm-sized black stone that the passenger, Rahil Prabhakar, insisted was his deity and refused to part with, even after being told it could not be carried in his cabin luggage.
Security Check Turns Chaotic Over 'Deity' Stone
The incident unfolded during the routine security check at Bareilly airport. Security officials instructed Rahil Prabhakar, a resident of Bhimtal in Uttarakhand, to place the black stone in his check-in luggage as it was not permitted inside the aircraft cabin. However, Prabhakar flatly refused to comply with the directive. He repeatedly referred to the stone as "his deity" or "his god" and declared that he would not travel without it in his possession.
As staff stood their ground on the rules, the situation quickly escalated. Rahil allegedly grew aggressive, began shouting at the security personnel, and issued threats. He was quoted as saying, "Tum mujhe maaro, phir main tumhe jaan se maarunga" (You hit me, then I will kill you). This behaviour triggered panic in the security hold area, with other passengers becoming anxious as the altercation intensified.
Passenger Offloaded, Flight Departs on Schedule
Despite repeated attempts by the airport staff to explain the regulations, Rahil Prabhakar remained adamant. Given the disruptive and threatening conduct, the airline was informed and the decision was taken to offload him from the flight. Even while being escorted out of the airport premises, Rahil continued to issue threats, according to the police report.
Following the incident, the security in-charge filed a formal complaint. Based on this, an FIR was registered at the Izzatnagar police station and Rahil Prabhakar was arrested to face judicial proceedings. The flight, from which he was removed, later departed for its destination as per the original schedule.
Legal Repercussions and Rule Reminder
Senior Superintendent of Police (City) Manush Pareek confirmed the sequence of events that led to the arrest. The case highlights the strict enforcement of aviation security protocols, where any item deemed potentially hazardous or not conforming to cabin baggage rules can lead to denial of carriage. While personal religious items are often allowed, their form and compliance with security norms are subject to assessment by airport authorities.
This incident serves as a stark reminder to air travellers to familiarise themselves with cabin baggage restrictions well in advance to avoid last-minute conflicts and legal trouble. Aggressive behaviour or threats towards airport or airline staff is a serious offence that can result in arrest and criminal charges, as demonstrated in this case at Bareilly airport.
