Privileges are not above law: Delhi customs on Kashmiri journalist’s viral video on bag checking

PTI, Feb 27, 2024, 9:57 AM IST

Screengrab from video (now deleted) shared by Kashmiri journalist. (Credit: X/@MirYanaSY)

New Delhi: Bag scanning of international passengers is done routinely and the ‘privileges are not above law’, the Delhi customs said on Monday after a video by a Kashmiri journalist over her bag checking at the airport here went viral.

The response came after the journalist, Yana Mir, shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) of her bag’s checking by the customs officials on arrival at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport.

“Bag scanning of international passengers is done routinely. While other paxs put their luggage inside the scanner without any fuss Ms Yana Mir felt needlessly offended. Staff remained courteous throughout. Privileges are not above law. Footage tells the story,” Delhi Customs (Airport and General) said on X, in reply to Mir’s post.

The department also shared video footage in its reply supporting its claim.

“Ms Yana Mir didn’t cooperate at all when requested to get her bags scanned. Her luggage was ultimately picked up by airline staff and Customs officer for scanning as seen in the footage,” it said in another reply.

Earlier in the day, Mir had shared a post along with the video of the bag scanning that had gone viral.

“How I was welcomed back to India: Madam scan your bag, open your bag, why you have Louis Vuitton shopping bags? Did you pay for them? Where are the bills???? ‘What Londoners think of me: INDIAN MEDIA WARRIOR. What Delhi customs thinks of me: Brand Smuggler,” her post read.