Returning migrant worker mistreated at Kathmandu airport
Sanjay Ojha, a resident of Morang district, had arrived in Kathmandu on Chaitra 31 for a 10-day leave from his job in Dubai.
KATHMANDU: A Nepali migrant worker returning from Dubai has alleged misconduct by police officers at Tribhuvan International Airport, drawing national attention after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
Sanjay Ojha, a resident of Morang district, had arrived in Kathmandu on Chaitra 31 for a 10-day leave from his job in Dubai.
After completing immigration and customs clearance at the airport, Ojha claims he was subjected to verbal abuse and physical assault by police officers following a minor dispute regarding an airport trolley.
According to Ojha, the incident began when an individual—who identified himself as an airport staff member—questioned him about using a trolley beyond a certain point. “Earlier, we were allowed to take trolleys that far. I did the same,” Ojha said. “He first asked if I needed a taxi, and when I said no, he started arguing with me.”
Ojha says he called the police seeking help, but instead of resolving the situation, the officers allegedly manhandled him.
In a video he recorded during the confrontation—which has been viewed over 3 million times on TikTok—officers can be seen attempting to confiscate his phone.
His wife, who was present, tried to intervene, asking him to stop filming.
The video shows three police personnel forcibly grabbing Ojha, twisting his arms behind his back, and dragging him inside the airport building.
Ojha claims he was beaten in the stomach and legs while in custody. “This is how I was treated in my own country,” he said in a follow-up post.
However, the Airport Security Office has presented a different version of events. Authorities claim Ojha had already been involved in a dispute with airport staff prior to the police intervention. “He argued with police and even attempted to hit an officer with his shoe,” a police official said. “We brought him inside for questioning.”
The incident has sparked widespread criticism online, raising questions about the behavior of security personnel at Nepal’s only international airport and the treatment of returning migrant workers—often referred to as the backbone of Nepal’s economy.
An internal investigation into the incident is reportedly underway.
