Sorry but Trichy airport immigration and customs is one of the worst in TN
I'm 31y old and I reached a point in my life where I can afford to travel internationally. I've always wanted to visit other countries. After saving up enough for years I was able to go on a solo holiday trip to 3 countries (Japan, Norway, Malaysia) over the span of 2 years. Since I live close to Trichy I use this airport for departure and arrival.
When I was returning back from my last trip, they stopped me at customs and made me wait for 1 hour for an additional check. While waiting for that check many of these uniformed officers kept asking me the same question: "are you wearing any gold chain or ring or are you carrying any gold inside a bag".
Then one guy came, looked at my passport, saw all the visas, and asked me
"why are you travelling so much, what are you doing there?"
I said I travel on vacation.
Then the guy says "no one travels this much for vacation, what's your real purpose?"
I just repeated the same answer. He then checks my neck and pockets to see if I have any gold (which I had none).
Then he looked at my bag. I carry a dslr camera because I like taking photos while traveling. He took the camera, and asks "where did you buy it?"
I said on Amazon.
Then he keeps asking "tell the truth where did you really buy it?"
I said, shall I show the order history on my app. Then he shut up. Then even when leaving he kept checking my shirt pockets, bag pockets to see if I have any gold.
At Immigration:
Trichy airport has this Fast Track immigration. I have used this in Delhi, trivandrum, and chennai. The other immigration counters were so crowded. So, I asked an officer if I can use this fast track instead. He said ok. I used it, cleared immigration, and as I was walking out, a lady yells at me asking "who told you can use this?" Then she checks my passport randomly and let's me go. There were a few more passengers who saw me use the Fast Track and they came behind me so she let me go. But I don't get why this attitude though?
At customs I saw them questioning women who were wearing their own gold chains. They kept harassing everyone, not just me.
Why are these immigration officers and customs so rude and impolite? I understand the need for questioning but can they do it respectfully instead of harassing everyone? Imagine 6-8 hours of travel and then you land and you have to face these people.