Those who harass foreigners and extract money from them will be taken to task, says the security agency
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) of Mumbai airport is doing everything it can to ensure passengers a hassle-free experience at the airport. Taking the adage 'atithi devo bhava’ (guest is god) a step further, the central security agency responsible for airport security has launched a drive against touts soliciting illegally at the airport.
In the last two months, the Mumbai CISF caught 20 touts who were soliciting services like providing trolleys, hotel and cab bookings. “We have launched a campaign against the growing menace of touts who harass passengers for trolleys, cabs, hotels, etc,” says Jitendra Negi, senior commandant, CISF. “Those who keep pestering passengers even after they have expressed that they are not interested in engaging their services will be targeted,” he says.
Touting or soliciting at the airport is an offence and attracts a fine or jail term. In spite of this, touts are often seen haggling with passengers. For instance, baggage trolleys are provided free at the airports. But some touts hide trolleys in nooks and corners of the airport and create artificial scarcity. “And when a passenger is searching frantically for a trolley, they provide them at a price. Some even ask money for carrying their baggage to the conveyor belt or to the cab,” says an airport official.
“This is a sort of extortion and mostly foreigners and women are targeted by these touts. We want to put across a good impression of our city to foreigners. Such activities are embarrassing for Indians and should be stopped,” he says.
When touts are held, the CISF hands them over to the police, which charges a fine of Rs500 and let them go. Most of these touts make a lot of money and can easily pay off the fine and continue to engage in such activities. The CISF is now working in co-operation with the airport police to make the punishment more stringent. “If someone is repeatedly caught, he will be liable for externment under clause 56 of the Bombay police act,” he says.
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