Chandigarh:
In a development welcomed by Sikh groups but also highlighting a long-standing grievance, customs authorities at Mumbai airport have returned 35 confiscated ‘Kirpans’ with ‘Gatras’, Sikh religious articles, to community representatives on Wednesday. The handover comes amid recurring complaints from various Sikh bodies and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee that airport security practices at Indian airports often conflict with constitutionally protected religious freedoms.
The articles had been taken from Amritdhari Sikh passengers during airport security checks because their small ‘Kirpans’ (Sri sahib) did not meet prescribed aviation size or carriage specifications. The Kirpan, a ceremonial dagger worn by ‘Amritdhari’ (baptised) Sikhs as one of the five articles of faith, holds deep spiritual significance and is considered inseparable from religious identity.
Sardar Puran Singh Banga, secretary of the Maharashtra based ‘Sat Sri Akaal Welfare Trust’, said the recovery effort was driven by concern for the dignity of sacred articles. He noted that when a Kirpan is confiscated, it is not treated by adherents as a mere object but as a symbol of faith that must be handled with reverence. According to him, Sikh travellers frequently leave behind Kirpans unintentionally during security screening after which many items remain unclaimed in official custody.
The trust has begun coordinating with customs authorities to identify religious belongings currently held at airports. Once verified, such items would be transferred to the trust or local gurdwara committees, he said adding that they would either be returned to families where possible or disposed of respectfully according to Sikh religious tradition, with all legal documentation completed.
Sardar Puran Singh further stated that the customs officials have indicated that similar procedures have recently been followed for other faith communities. Religious articles including copies of the Quran, the Bible, and bottles of ‘Zamzam’ water have also been returned to passengers or community representatives.
Despite the gesture, the Sikh organizations continue to raise concerns about security practices at airports. They maintain that passengers are sometimes asked to remove the ‘Kara’, another mandated article of faith, during physical checks. Sikh thinker Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal contended that clearer guidelines and better sensitization of security staff at all airports are needed to balance aviation safety rules with constitutional guarantees of religious freedom. “Many times ‘Amritdhari’ passengers have been barred from carrying Kirpan and Khanda necklaces at airports and the Sikhs have flagged such Sikh issues with the union government. Such practices have caused emotional distress and violates religious sentiments of the Sikh community,” he added.
