Mumbai, Feb 12: Customs authorities at Mumbai airport have returned 35 confiscated Kirpans and Gatras to community representatives, addressing a long-standing grievance regarding the handling of Sikh religious articles at transit hubs.
The handover, which took place has rekindled a significant dialogue between Sikh bodies and aviation security officials concerning the balance between safety protocols and constitutional religious freedoms.
The articles were originally seized from Amritdhari passengers during security screenings when the ceremonial daggers did not align with specific aviation size regulations. However, the Kirpan remains one of the five mandatory articles of faith for baptized Sikhs and is viewed by the community as an inseparable part of their spiritual identity.
“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,” said Sardar Puran Singh Banga, secretary of the Maharashtra-based Sat Sri Akaal Welfare Trust.
He said that the recovery effort was launched to protect the dignity of these sacred items, many of which are often left behind or unclaimed in official custody following security checks.
The trust has initiated a coordination effort with customs officials to identify and verify religious belongings currently held at various airports.
Banga said that once these items are processed with proper legal documentation, they will be transferred to local gurdwara committees or returned to the families.
He further stated that customs officials have adopted similar respectful procedures for other faiths, returning items such as copies of the Quran, the Bible, and Zamzam water to their respective representatives.
Despite the return of the items, Sikh thinkers and organizations like the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have noted that security practices often lead to emotional distress. Concerns remain regarding passengers being asked to remove the Kara or being barred from wearing Khanda necklaces during physical checks.
Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal, a prominent Sikh thinker, noted that while aviation safety is important, there is a pressing need for better sensitization of airport staff.
“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 said.
