An Air India passenger recently recounted a shocking incident of discovering a sharp metal blade in his in-flight meal. Responding to the social media post, the Tata Group-owned airline confirmed on Sunday the presence of the metal blade in the meal.

Addressing the controversy, Air India’s Chief Customer Experience Officer Rajesh Dogra explained that the metal object originated from a vegetable processing machine used for cutting raw vegetables. To prevent similar occurrences, the company has increased the frequency of inspecting the processor, especially after chopping hard vegetables.

“Air India confirms that a foreign object was found in the meal of a guest aboard one of our flights. After investigation, it has been identified as coming from the vegetable processing machine used at the facilities of our catering partner. We have worked with our catering partner to strengthen measures to prevent any recurrence, including more frequent checking of the processor especially after chopping any hard vegetable,” Rajesh Dogra stated, as quoted by ANI.

The incident came to public attention when Mathurs Paul, a social media user, shared his alarming experience with an Air India in-flight meal. He described how he unknowingly chewed on the sharp metal piece before realizing its presence.

“Air India food can cut like a knife. Hiding in its roasted sweet potato and fig chaat was a metal piece that looked like a blade. I only felt it after chewing the grub for a few seconds. Thankfully, no harm was done. Of course, the blame squarely lies with Air India’s catering service, but the incident doesn’t help the image I have of Air India. What if the metal piece was in the food served to a child?” wrote the user on X.

Recently, another Air India passenger, Vineeth K, shared his negative experience traveling in business class. He complained on social media about a 25-minute flight delay and cited poor food and unclean, worn-out seats as issues that marred his journey.

The Naga Civil Society Organisations in Manipur have urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to repatriate illegal immigrants from Myanmar and withdraw Assam Rifles from the Indo-Myanmar border areas near Kamjong.

On Friday, the United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women’s Union (NWU), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM), and the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights – South (NPMHR-S) submitted a joint memorandum to the Union Home Minister through the Governor of Manipur.

They stated that the memorandum followed a fact-finding visit to the Indo-Myanmar border areas.

“The massive influx of fugitives from Myanmar, who have been temporarily seeking refuge in the Kamjong areas of Manipur since November 2023 following political upheaval in Myanmar after the 2021 coup and the subsequent fall of Thanan in Myanmar’s Sagaing region, has created unbearable hardships for the villagers, where the fugitives are being temporarily sheltered.”

The memorandum highlighted that about 5,457 refugees are being sheltered in eight Tangkhul Naga villages, outnumbering the local residents. “The increasing activities of anti-social elements have become unbearable with no law enforcement agencies effectively controlling the situation, and foreign cultural practices are overwhelming the native customs due to the population imbalance,” it stated.

While biometric data have been captured for 5,173 individuals, monitoring the activities of adult male refugees has become a significant challenge. The authorities cannot regularly verify the fluctuating numbers of inmates between day and night in the makeshift camps, the memorandum added.

“The dubious activities of young and adult members are also a concern, as their prolonged stay could be detrimental to our well-being,” it noted. “We have extended our hospitality wholeheartedly as good neighbors, and the state government has done its part well.”

Expressing sympathy for the plight of fellow human beings, the Naga civil society organisations urged the Union Home Minister to explore ways to safely facilitate the refugees’ return home now that violent confrontations have subsided in Myanmar.

The memorandum also noted that under the pretext of curbing the movement of illegal refugees, arms, and drug smuggling, the presence of men in combat uniforms has created fear and insecurity among the villagers, who are already impacted by the massive influx of refugees.

“The movement of large military trucks at odd hours, particularly at night, across the borders, disturbing the peace and tranquility of the villages, is highly questionable,” it added.