‘Indian on holiday assaulted teen on flight’

An Indian from Qatar on a holiday assaulted a teenage girl during a flight to the UK, while his wife was sat beside him, British media reported on Monday.

Suman Das, 46, was arrested at the Manchester Airport after the 18-year old victim claimed that he touched her inappropriately while she was dozing in her seat. She said she woke up to feel a “rubbing sensation” and fled to the back of the plane in tears.

At the time of the assault at 30,000 feet, Das’ wife Sonia sat beside him unaware of his behaviour, the Manchester Evening Post reported.

He initially claimed that he must have touched her by accident while fidgeting in his seat and offered to apologise, but later said he could not have carried out an assault as he was asleep, the report said.