Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah faces immigration check for two hours at US airport

After Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has complained that he spent two hours in a holding area, adding that this happens to him every time he goes the US.

"Another "random" secondary immigration check upon landing in the US. Thrice in three visits, the randomness is growing tiresome now," tweeted Omar.

"I just spent TWO hours in a holding area and this happens EVERY time. Unlike @iamsrk I don't even catch Pokemon to pass the time (sic)," he said in his tweet.

He further tweeted: "I'm here to speak at an event organised by NYU but I almost wish I'd stayed at home instead. Ah well, that's two hours well & truly wasted!! (sic)"

Earlier in August, Shah Rukh Khan was detained by the US Immigration Department at Los Angeles airport.

Khan had tweeted his displeasure earlier saying that it "sucked" to be detained at the US immigration every time.

"I fully understand & respect security with the way the world is, but to be detained at US immigration every damn time really really sucks. The brighter side is while waiting caught some really nice Pokemons," he said.

Following his detention, the US Department of State apologised to Khan. "Sorry for the hassle at the airport, @iamsrk - even American diplomats get pulled for extra screening!," Nisha Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, US Department of State said in a tweet.

However, former Indian Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao came out in support of the security measure at LA Airport saying that one cannot question the customs and border protection laws of any sovereign country.

"The US post 9/11 is a changed country. If you're not prepared to accept stringent security/controls don't go there. Everything falls under the rubric of homeland security. No foreigner is really exempt," she said in a series of tweets.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan ambassador to US Husain HaqqaniVerified has called for updated equipment for Customs and Border Protection officers so that such incidents can be avoided.

"Time to give @cbp officers better computers and advise them to check on individuals with other branches of US govt," he tweeted.

However, SRK too was not detained at a US airport for the first time as the same happened at the New York airport in April 2012 when he had gone there to address students at Yale University. He was then detained by the immigration officials for over two hours.

Even in 2009, Khan was detained by US immigration officials at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after his name came up on a computer alert list.

--ANI