Beijing/New Delhi—Nov 24 (LatestNewsX)
India responded strongly to a tense incident involving a UK‑resident from Arunachal Pradesh. The individual was reportedly detained and mistreated by Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport on “ludicrous grounds,” according to sources.
The passenger, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, was travelling from London to Japan on Nov 21 with a three‑hour layover in Shanghai. She says her ordeal stretched to 18 hours after authorities declared her passport “invalid” because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.
Thongdok told us that immigration personnel held her for hours, insisting that “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China.” Senior officials in India sent a strong demarche to the Chinese side in both Beijing and Delhi on the same day, while the Indian Consulate in Shanghai also stepped in and offered full assistance to the stranded traveler.
A senior official said, “It was stressed that the passenger had been detained on ludicrous grounds. Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports. It has also been highlighted that the actions of the Chinese authorities are in contravention of the Chicago and Montreal Conventions relating to civil aviation. At a time when both sides are working on restoring normalcy, such actions by the Chinese side introduce unnecessary obstructions to the process.”
According to Thongdok, several officers and China Eastern Airlines staff mocked her, laughed at her, and even suggested she “apply for a Chinese passport.” What was meant to be a routine transit turned into a prolonged confinement in the airport’s transit area. She alleges she was denied clear information, proper food, and access to basic facilities, as reported by NDTV.
Thongdok claims her passport was confiscated and she was barred from boarding her onward flight to Japan, despite holding a valid visa. While stuck in the transit zone, she was unable to rebook tickets, buy meals, or move between terminals. She says officials pressured her to purchase a new ticket for China Eastern and hinted that her passport would only be returned after doing so, causing her to lose money on missed flights and hotel bookings.
She eventually contacted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai through a UK friend, after which Indian officials intervened and escorted her onto a late‑night departure from the city.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior authorities, Thongdok described the incident as a “direct insult to India’s sovereignty and to the citizens of Arunachal Pradesh.” She urged the Indian government to raise the issue with Beijing, demand accountability and disciplinary action against the immigration and airline staff involved, and seek compensation. She also requested assurances that Indians from Arunachal Pradesh will not face such difficulties when traveling internationally in the future.
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