Branded as ‘mentally unstable’, and subject to a physical discovery by a male officer.
Shilpa Ganguly (47) and Shruti Chaturvedi (32), who have been friends and neighbors for years, had no idea that their American holiday would end in this way.
Two friends, who went to America to visit an all-gourd with a third friend named AANCL, and a road trip in Alaska, on Sunday, 6 April, faced one of the rigorous experiences of his life at Ted Stevens Encourage International Airport. He also accuses a power bank.
“This was the same power bank with which I entered Seattle and London, but there was no problem,” Shilpa said The Quint,
‘I felt as if everyone was ganging on me’
All this started when Shilpa, an employee of a startup company, reached the Ankrej Airport to return to Mumbai on 6 April. Shruti, who was later scheduled to travel to Vancouver during the day, came to leave her friend at the airport.
Transpailed Ordel in Safety Check-in. Shilpa, who had approved security and wore his shoes before moving towards the departure gate, was approached by a security officer who told him that he would once again want to scan his bag.
Shilpa says, “I didn’t think anything at that time,” and just waited patiently to check the bag. ,
Shilpa Ganguly.
However, when the check took longer than expected, Shilpa approached her to find out what the matter was. The official said that the bag has a power bank that “seems suspect” and will have to scan. When he discovered, he was asked to be patient.
A few minutes later, after accepting them again, he said that he could throw the power bank if he felt it was problematic, but requested him to let him go because she was about to remember her flight.
Shilpa says, “She then started speaking badly to me,” whenever I approached her to ask how much time it would take, they would say, ‘You have to sit, we have not been done yet. ,
Then he dialed Shruti, who had not yet left the airport, and told him what was happening. Her friend tried to calm her on the phone, saying that such things happen in America and they let her go soon.
However, it was not. An official approached him and said he suspected the bomb in the power bank.
“Are you crazy? Are you accusing me of carrying a bomb?” Shilpa told the officer in the event of shock. Then they started asking her strange questions, as if she was working for and who else was involved.
He then directed a senior officer to protect the airport to call the bomb squad.
“Now I was really scared. I did not know what was happening.
‘Kick my food, deprived me of a lawyer’
The security of the airport took Shilpa into a room and snatched her phone and bag. When he requested him to inform his friends and family what was going on, he allegedly refused.
“I started crying … I asked him,” Are you doing this because I am an Indian? ” … but he avoided my question and locked me in the room, “Shilpa said. The Quint,
About an hour after being alone, Shilpa started beating at the door and asked what was going on.
“Then an officer opened the door and said,” Do you want us to put you chains and handcuffs? ” ,
“I got very scared, I just kept crying inside the room … I didn’t even have a glass of water. I had already missed my flight, and I thought it’s the end for me.”
She then requested the authorities to let her use the washroom as she was in her period and was going through heavy bleeding due to severe stress. The officials asked him where his sanitary pads were. When he pointed to him in his bag, the officer took him out, but some food that was in the bag also fell.
When she returned from the washroom, she found three officers of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) sitting there.
He then read him Miranda Rights (legal protection for people in police custody in the US) and asked him to sign a form that he put in front of him.
Shilpa said, “I asked him if I could get a lawyer. He refrained from the question and said that I have to sign a consent form. Not knowing about his laws, I had no choice but to sign it,” Shilpa said.
However, at that time she was being questioned in another room at the airport, unknown, Shruti was also being questioned.
‘Physically discovered by male officer’
When Shilpa called Shruti at the time of security outpost and informed what was happening, the security of the airport was later approached to inquire about the situation.
“He said, ‘Oh, you are his friend? Then we have to bring you into custody”, “Shruti told you The Quint“No reason was given. They just took me to a room which was extremely cold.”
Shruti Chaturvedi.
Shruti, who was in her nightdress and just had a jacket, was allegedly subject to a physical discovery by a male officer.
“They took my jackets, gloves and phones. I remember the male officer’s name was Dylan. They discovered me in the absence of a female officer … I don’t think they have that rule in America.”
Shilpa was linked to the same process, then repeated with Shruti: An FBI officer came into the room, read Miranda rights, and asked her to sign a consent form.
She then asked her why she had come to Alaska, and it was very unusual for Indians to go there, to which she responded that she had come to see the northern light.
Then, Shruti says, she started asking the ‘lead’ questions.
Evidence fabricated by airport officials?
When Shruti was being grilled, the FBI accused Shilpa of using duct tape on her power bank, so that she could hide inside her handbags.
“He asked me where the power bank was really in the bag, and I told them. But he said, according to the security team, it was duct-tap inside the interior lining of the suitcase. I was surprised … I said,” No, it was not. “
He then asked them to check the CCTV footage whether he had tampered with the power bank in any way.
“Then they came back after a while and said the good news for me was that CCTV footage investigated, and that the power bank was where I claimed,” Shilpa said.
He then asked the FBI officials about the duct tape.
“I said, ‘What about duct tape? Who kept it there? Because I did not do it’. And he said, ‘This is not important’.”
He then gave him a clear chit, but he refused to give his handbag back – claiming that he had to investigate completely. He was offered a plastic bag and asked him to put his belongings in it.
After about eight hours, let it out of the airport, Shilpa started crying after seeing Shruti. He then changed his flight tickets as both of them remembered their flights. However, his predecessor was not over yet.
Shortly before Shilpa’s second flight departure, security officials approached her and said she needed to find her phone.
After checking the phone, they gave it back and called ‘sorry’.
” Ask forgiveness? ‘ What do you mean by ‘sorry’?
Shilpa, who has now returned to Mumbai, is considering whether the allegations against the officials concerned should be suppressed or not.
“I don’t know if I can suppress the allegations. I do not know my rights here … I would really like to file a complaint if possible.”
She said that she is waiting for Shruti to come back from Vancouver to discuss whether to take a legal step in this matter.
,The Quint Ted Stevens has reached the International Airport to understand its version of that day’s events. This article will be updated when they answer.)
