India Documentary Filmmaker on Islamic Fundamentalists Jailed for Brass Knuckles in Carry-on Bag
[Photo: Chessdom.com]
Rather intriguing, the story of the arrest of Hindu India documentary filmmaker Vijay Kumar at a Houston airport on August 20th. According to a Houston Chronicle report, Kumar is behind bars until a September 8 hearing. Kumar, on his way to Canada, was arrested at a Houston airport after officials noticed Kumar “acting suspiciously” and discovered a pair of brass knuckles, “jihadist” literature, and $10,000 in undeclared cash in a carry-on bag.
Kumar is behind bars, charged with “illegally” trying bring brass knuckles onto a flight in a carry-on bag. The Houston Chronicle reported Kumar makes documentary films on Islamic fundamentalists. Kumar, a Hindu, had been invited by the Hindu Congress of America to ‘participate in the organization’s conference on the recruiting techniques of Islamic fundamentalists’. According to Kumar’s attorney, Kumar carries the brass knuckles for protection in India while Kumar ‘misread’ the TSA travel restrictions which forbid brass knuckles in carry-on bags. According a recent news report, TSA officials regularly confiscate items such as brass knuckles then allow the person to board their flight. After his arrest, Kumar made bond under the condition he surrender his passport which revoked his visa. Kumar was then detained by ICE, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, because he no longer had his passport or visa. What’s ironic, if Kumar had been from Mexico he’d be mostly likely, out of jail, deported back to Mexico. A federal judge ruled Kumar, a Hindu, has to remain behind bars, until “it gets sorted out”. Kumar’s day in court, September 8.
The site, Welcome to India West provided more details.
-Kumar “checked the safety regulations of the Transportation and Safety Administration before deciding to carry the brass knuckles in a checked bag. The item is not banned under U.S. federal law, but is prohibited by Texas, where it is a deemed a felony charge of possessing a prohibited weapon in a prohibited place”.
According to the TSA website, travelers can pack brass knuckles on checked bags. While it is illegal carry brass knuckles in Texas, Kumar was at the airport, the officials in charge, TSA agents who discovered brass knuckles in Kumar’s carry-on bag.
Kumar was carrying $10,000 in cash, which Kumar “failed to report” and:
“He had a ton of books,” the officer told The Examiner, including some on espionage and others that detailed the manufacture of military weapons. Titles included “A Woman Among Warlords” by Malalai Joya, “Spycraft,” and “New Voices of Islam.”
The Hindu Congress claims Kumar was in Houston to give a lecture on Islamic fundamentalists which could explain the books.
According to India West, one of Kumar’s documentaries:
““My Name Is Khan,” which was about an Indian man facing harassment by American authorities.”
Another Kumar documentary, “Viswanathan Anand – World Chess Champion”.
Another Kumar documentary, a nature film about tigers in India, Last of East.
What’s interesting to note is that the TSA often confiscates prohibited items then allows the passenger to board their flight including brass knuckles.
NBCDFW, What’s in Your Carry-On Bag?:
Tougher rules about what can be carried on a plane went into effect eight years ago, but security screeners in North Texas are still confiscating weapons such as knives and brass knuckles every single week.
A table full of knives, brass knuckles, martial arts weapons and hollowed-out grenades looked like a prop table on the set of a martial arts film. It drew a surprised looks from passengers as they walked through the lobby at Dallas Love Field.
And,
The TSA said it is finding more weapons this summer as passengers carry more bags onto planes to avoid checked baggage fees. Many of them are carried into security checkpoints by people who simply forget the prohibited items are in their bags.
[...] India Documentary Filmmaker on Islamic Fundamentalists Jailed for … [...]