Punjab NRI panel seeks probe into NRI woman's harassment

The Punjab NRI Commission Wednesday asked the union ministries of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs, Protector of Immigrants and Bureau of Immigration to probe allegations made by two NRIs against immigration and police officials at New Delhi's IGI International Airport.

The NRIs have, in their complaint to the commission through the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), have alleged that they were wrongly detained and harassed at the airport by immigration and security officials in September last year.

The complainants - Rupinder Kaur and Harmandeep Rai - said the incident occurred Sep 29, 2013.

"We were mistreated, wrongfully detained, harassed, and (faced) derogatory remarks by the immigration and the police officials at IGI International Airport, New Delhi," they said in the complaint.

Rupinder said that after she arrived her with Rai, she was detained in a room. She alleged that there was no woman immigration or police officer present when she was interrogated.

She alleged that she was threatened, besides being "asked personal and offending questions with unprofessional looks amounting to harassment and a violation of privacy of a woman".

She alleged that she was asked offensive questions about her relationship with Rai. She said that when Rai enquired about her, the officials manhandled him saying that he was drunk. She said that Rai was detained at the police station before being released on bail.

A spokesman of the commission said that the ministries and departments have been asked to enquire into the matter and submit their action taken report by Feb 7.