Army officer charged for 'murderous assault' on SpiceJet staff at Srinagar Airport

A senior Army officer has been charged with "murderous assault" for a brutal attack on four SpiceJet airline staffers at Srinagar Airport on July 26, following a dispute over excess baggage. The incident, which was captured in a video that has since gone viral, reportedly left the airline employees with serious injuries, including a spinal fracture and a fractured jaw. The officer, identified in some reports as Ritesh Kumar Singh, was allegedly carrying more than double the permissible limit for cabin baggage and refused to pay the charges.

According to a statement from SpiceJet, the incident occurred at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 bound for Delhi. After being informed about his excess baggage, the officer refused to pay and attempted to bypass security protocols by forcefully entering the aerobridge. He was escorted back to the gate by a CISF official, but his aggression escalated. The airline claims the officer then "physically assaulted four members of the SpiceJet ground staff" with punches, repeated kicks, and a queue stand. One employee reportedly collapsed but was continually kicked, while another suffered a forceful kick to the jaw while trying to assist his colleague.

An FIR has been registered with the local police, and the airline has also taken steps to place the officer on a no-fly list. SpiceJet has formally written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, detailing the "murderous assault" and requesting strict action. The airline has secured and handed over CCTV footage of the incident to the police. The Indian Army has also taken cognizance of the matter, confirming that an internal probe has been ordered and it is cooperating with the civil investigation.