Sharing my experience with Air India/ Delhi Metro/ Indian Railways while carrying Air Pistol in public interest. As much as I would like to promote these modes of conveyance, I must confess I received neither free nor preferential treatment on any of these nor am I in employ of them. Nor am I in sinister cahoots with any of the Indo-German products that I am about to mention.
NOV 7: Flew AI *domestic* sector flight to Delhi from Mumbai. Carried my FWB P34 in its case with 3 tins (500 ct) of RWS R-10, Mastershot, gsmith & P-10 plus the accessories. I had my DRS pump neatly wrapped in a Sholapuri chadder as well. At Mumbai I was given boarding pass and the girl was about to pass on my bag when I reminded her that she needs to call security since I had made the declaration. Mind you the bag was scanned before I entered the terminal. So she called a security guy who escorted me and the bag to another corner where I opened the bag and took out the case with was in another shoulder rucksack. I explained various accessories and then pointe dout that I had chained the handles together and locked it since the latches did not have any loop. (Older FWB AP hard case). The security asked me if I needed to make any payment, and I explained that APs & their pellets are exempt as they do not come under hazardous materials. "So what do we see?" was their question to which I replied:
1. Both/ all the cylinders must be TOTALLY emptied
2. Cylinder must be detached from the AP to prevent any accidental firing due to some residual air
3. Pellets are PELLETS & not bullets
4. The case is securedly locked to prevent any *unintentional* opening
Additionally,
5. My letter from my club giving details of my AP with its serial # which must be verified and noted along with my address
6. Printout of GVM notice with paid receipt to MRA which tantamounts to "invitation"
7. Shooter's card (which obviously I did not have) - I showed my range's Life Membership card.
Needless to say they were all impressed and noted down the details of my AP and my address etc. and wished me luck.
All that took less than 10 minutes and ZERO rupees in fees and I was on my way.
NOV 8: Family was flying in this day and I also had to do my Weapon Control at Tughjlagabad. So I checked out of my motel at Aerocity and hailed a taxi for Tughlagabad since Aerocity Metro link is dysfunctional. After WC was done was dropped off at Vishnupuri Delhi Metro station. At the scanning counter, I declared I was carrying an AP and showed them all the paperwork PLUS the weapon control paper and shooter's card and all the details were duly noted and I was allowed through. No problems except the size and the weight of the bag which I was carrying but I had retained the AI tags and stamps. The rush was terrible and since I ahd to get to the hotel at Karol Baug had to change three trains - Govindpuripuri to Central Secretariat to Rajiv Chowk to Dwarka Extension. But once the security was done at Govindpuri did not have to re-check again. I got off at Jhandewalan without any incident or FEES. Score = 1-0
Nov 10: Detail was this day. I walked to Jhandewalan from Hotel Southern and declared with the security. "NO" was the answer. I reasoned that he could check what I was carrying and that it's allowed in Delhi metros plus I had the paperwork to support. "NO - my supervisor is not here. Even I am not supposed to carry my *machine-gun* and its bullets. He was holding an INSAS." I did not argue any more and walked down and back again. Huge Hanuman was smiling down upon me from the other side. I chose to hail an auto now. That ride was a totally grand experience; but I shall refrain from writing it. In short carrying AP in Delhi metro was a bummer. Score = 1-1.
After our respectrive matches spent a quality time with a friend and a Delhi based AP shooter who is an IFGian in the CR Park area and was then dropped off at Nehru Place metro station. Declared and everything was checked and noted and allowed through. One of the junior 'afsaraan' was in his 20s and confessed that he is an avid shooter too - "lekin air rifle se kartaa hoon saabji". I wished him well and was on my way to the 3-train journey to Karol Baug. Score = 2-1.
Nov 11: @ NDLS. Family et al catching early morning train to Chandigadh. At the railway station, the security person was actually DOZING !!!
While some of those in front of us just walked by without even putting their bags on conveyor belt, I went from saying to shouting "Excuse Me" ignoring 'advices' of "Oye jaldi". Finally the security who was standing at the door came by and woke his partner up. I declared but either they did not understand what I was saying or were in no mood. But both wanted to get back to their respectives positions as fast as possible and passed my bag through. NO HASSLES - NO FEES. Score = 3-1.Nov 12: @Chandigadh. We checked out of the hotel and did some sight-seeing. Finally caught the evening train to Amritsar. No security check. But Railway Police did patrol the CC compartment. No questions asked - no checks performed - no words exchanged. Draw. Score = 3-1.
Nov 14: @Amritsar. Caught even earlier train to NDLS. No security checks. Draw. Score = 3-1.
Caught a cab to IGI - Terminal 3 since the return was an AI flight. Delhi roads were surprisingly empty and the run from NDLS to IGI took less than 30 minutes !!! Wife was of the opinion that we should not stop for lunch etc. but gobble something at the airport and if possible try to catch the earlier flight - if AI allowed. So we reached VERY EARLY but "technically" late to get on the 1300 flight since I was carrying the AP. After that AI-102 was announced but the seurity took another 3 hours to attend to my request. I kept returning to the counter for passes but was denied. Then I made a "mandavli" - "Why is your security guy not shwoing up ? I don't want my family sitting separately in the flight simply because your dudes do not do their duty. Seats are filling up fast. Issue the boarding passes but hold on to the bags. Send them on only after security clears, what say ?" Finally at around 1545 (ONE HOUR BEFORE THE ETD !!!) the security guy shows up and takes me to another side of "oversized luggage". His superior was more "friendly" and told me how he applied same set of rules to a BJP leader from Mumbai etc. etc. I heard him out and then started on my own set of questions both praising and cornering him. Finally he said that this being an INTERNATIONAL SECTOR flight from US different set of rules apply ! Fine - I told him I have flown this very flight 'hazaar' times when I lived in the US for around 11 years - that impressed him. Also the flight would now be flying in the domestic sector - DELHI -MUMBAI. So why would US/ UK have any problem ? I assured him that I have no probs with his security procedures as long as he does it in time and gets us on that flight. This time a triplicate set of forms was filled in with all the details including my range address and also the details of the person who would carry the bag to the plane. We were the last folks to get on the flight. Anyway after a hard fought match the goal was in our favor. NO FEES. Final Score = 4-1.
The flight landed at Mumbai around 1915. We got our baggage around 2100 - the last to come out. Two security guys who were loitering there walked to me before I touched my bag and checked me out and asked me to check out my "samaan" and sign the form, which I did. The belt was halted a couple of times making us wonder if the bags were put on the flight in the first place. The "ladies compartment" was in panic mode - but I stayed cool and collected; something my wife appreciated in me on the way home. (Yup - one of the rare treats these days
). But that's what the fine sport of (pistol) shooting makes you. 
So instead of being a passive reader take up shooting...Hope my 2 cents worth of contribution here proves helpful and is put to right use. Safe shooting. Happy shooting.
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