This happened sometime in 1987-88. Those days I was a regular flier to Mumbai (probably once a month), on official work. Most of the times, I would take the morning Vayudoot flight. The clearing agent for the flight was the same agency from where I used to buy the tickets. The agency staff knew me well thanks to my Corporate identity. My employer was, after-all, their biggest client.

I would reach the airport well in time (as I always do) and hence normally will be the first person to arrive at the airport. The plane used to be an 18 seater Dornier aircraft. The remaining passengers, most often, were the local moneybags (families of diamond merchants and ship-breakers) and thus would arrive in their cars at the last moment, whereas I had to travel by an auto-rickshaw.

I was also a familiar face to the police team at the airport because of my frequent travels through that airport, more so in view of the limited number of passengers passing through.

On one of such trips to Mumbai, I arrived at the airport to find that, as usual, I was the first passenger to arrive. After the usual ‘Hello’ and ‘Hi’ and checking in, one of the agency staff requested me to accompany him to the VIP room (that was the first time I became aware that the small airport had a VIP room too). I accompanied him to find that It was a large austere room where two gentlemen were seated. I was introduced and was left alone with them.

One of the gentlemen appeared to be in his early fifties and the other one was much younger, maybe in late thirties. The elder gentleman then introduced himself as a Supdt. of Police from the Civil Aviation branch from Mumbai. He introduced the younger one as an Inspector from the same office. He told me that they had come to carry out a surprise check of the security arrangements and alertness of the police team at the airport and asked me if I would help them in their exercise.

All kinds of thoughts went through my mind and none of them were pleasant

Being a cautious person, I enquired what help they expected from me? The SP enquired if I would carry a weapon on my person to check if the security personnel are able to detect it or not?

I was flabbergasted at this request. All kinds of thoughts went through my mind and none of them were pleasant. I decided to look out for a way to escape from this proposition. I, however, could not say a direct ‘NO’, probably out of politeness. So I told them that I would rather not take up their suggestion as this may be a criminal act. I further added that I have no way to ascertain that they were who they said they were. At this challenge to their purported identity the younger one reacted sharply with a ‘What do you mean?’. The SP calmed him down and asked him to show his identity card to me which he did. The SP then told me that he fully understood my apprehension and requested me to first have a look at the weapon they wanted me to carry, before I give them my final response.

The Inspector produced a piece of metal which I have always found hard to describe. It was a squashed piece of dark coloured metal with a bulky head on one side with a thin pencil like strip, maybe four inches long, emanating from it. It was not blunt at all. I was surprised that they were calling it a weapon. A bit relaxed now, I asked them what was I supposed to do? They told me to insert the metal piece in my socks and return to the hall and complete the security check-in with everyone else, as usual. I asked them what would happen if I was not caught? The SP assured me that the metal detector will certainly detect the metal piece. I do not know why but I agreed to carry the metal piece on my body. I inserted it in my socks and left the room.

What would happen if I was not caught?

Once the security check was announced I found that all the policemen were much more active and alert than usual. I would normally carry a very small briefcase (overnighter) with just one or two nights’ change of clothes as I often used to return by the next day’s flight. I was also carrying a folding umbrella in the briefcase, it being the rainy season in Mumbai. On previous occasions my briefcase was hardly ever opened and I was waived on by the security staff with just a cursory screening, as they knew me well. However, this time it was different.

They meticulously went through my briefcase but could find nothing.

When my turn came, I put my briefcase on the inspection table. I was asked to open my briefcase (probably for the first time in over 4-5 months). They meticulously went through my briefcase, removed every item, even opened the umbrella, but could find nothing. It was so obvious that they were aware about the inspection and that they knew that I was the carrier. Obviously they had seen me closeted with officials in the VIP room.

During body scanning 2-3 policemen gathered around while one of them ran metal detector all over my body. I could sense that the eyes of all the policemen were on me. Surprisingly, after two-three rounds of scanning also they could not detect anything on me. I heard someone mutter ‘Nothing?’. The policemen reluctantly let me go inside. They all seemed dejected.

I picked up my briefcase and took a seat alongside other passengers.

When and where I will be caught and then what will happen to me?

Now it was my time to worry. Here I was, sitting in the security hold area, with supposedly a weapon on me and ready to board the plane with it. I was wondering when and where I will be caught and then what will happen to me?

Just as the boarding was being announced, the two ‘VIPs’ entered the security hold area after undergoing the security check. They came and sat next to me. The SP asked me if the weapon was detected. I said “No”. He was surprised. “No?” he asked? “No” I replied. He asked me to hand over the weapon to him, which I did after removing it from my socks. Now I was relieved. The weapon was their problem now.

The SP called the policeman in-charge and showed him the weapon. He then, in a stern voice, asked him how did it get into the security hold area. No introductions were made but the policeman obviously knew who he was.  The exchange went something like this –

“Sorry Sir”

“Call the person who did the screening”. The policeman came over.

“Sir, he is a new person. The permanent one is on leave.”

“Does he not know how to use a metal detector?”

“Sir, the metal detector is not working properly”

At this the SP lost his temper and gave a sound verbal lashing to all the policemen and warned them that he will report this lapse in his report and that action will be taken against them. The entire police team appeared shaken. On my way to the aircraft, however, it was I who was shaking in my boots. Just the thought of a few suspended/dismissed policemen looking for me in the city, sent shivers through my body.

In the plane I asked the SP what kind of action will be taken against the policemen? He told me that they may be issued a warning. However, I was not feeling assured. On my return, I was taking a detour to visit another city, where I had some more official work. However, all the time I was just thinking of the welcome I would receive when I land at my home airport on my return. So, I took a train instead.

Just the thought of a few suspended/dismissed policemen looking for me in the city, sent shivers through my body

Nothing untoward happened in the next few days/weeks. However, even after trying my best to delay my next trip to Mumbai, inevitably the day came when once again I had to fly to Mumbai.

I was unsure of the kind of reception I will receive at the hands of the police team at the airport. The thought kept on bothering me all the way to the airport. I was tense and arrived later than usual to ensure least exposure to the police team. However, when ultimately I entered the security check area, I received a rousing reception. The entire team was all smiles. My God, what a relief. I mustered the courage to ask them about the action taken against them? “What action?” was their response and they were laughing. I felt a big relief, not for them, but for myself.

However, the entire episode left me wondering – what if I were a real terrorist with a real gun?