Srinagar, Kashmir

Srinagar is the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The city is famous for its lakes, Nagin Lake and Dal Lake. It is also a highly sensitive and security-tight area.

On our way back to Delhi by plane, we had to go through no less than four security checks.

I had a few small apples in my backpack and was asked to ‘finish them before boarding’. One of our group members was holding a book (which she was reading at the waiting lounge) at the departure gate. She was asked to keep it in her bag.

Were the small innocent-looking apples a potential bomb threat? Was the book a potential ‘missile’?

Before boarding the plane, all passengers had to identify their luggage in the ‘luggage identification’ room. On board the plane, an officer came and stopped next to the girl beside me. He told her that she had not identified her luggage and was asked to get down the plane to do so.

Looking at the positive side, the little inconvenience was a precautionary measure for our own safety and security. Kashmir after all is a nice and beautiful place.

Streets scene of Srinagar