UKHRUL, NOV 24: Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an India-origin UK resident from Arunachal Pradesh alleges that she was detained and harrased by Chinese immigration authorities in Shanghai Pudong Airport.
On November 21, Thongdok was travelling from London to Japan. Thongdok claimed that her three-hour layover lasted for 18 hours instead after officials claimed her passport “invalid” as it stated Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.
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The authorties stated “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China”.
Despite holding a valid visa, her passport was confiscated and she was prevented from boarding her onward flight.
According to Thongdok, multiple immigration officers and Chinese Airlines staffs were mocking her and suggesting to apply for a “Chinese passport”.
Confined in the transit area, Thongdok was denied rebooking flights, food and basic facilities.
Allegedly, officials also pressurized her to purchase new tickets on China eastern implying that her passport would be returned only after doing so.
Thongdok later managed to get in touch with the Indian Consulate in Shanghai through a friend in the UK. She was then escorted to a late-night flight by the officials.
Thongdok describes the incident as a “Direct insult to India’s sovereignty and Arunachal Pradesh’s citizens” in a letter to the Prime Minister.
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She sought action against the immigration officials and assurance from the Indian government to prevent such actions from happening to citizens from Arunachal Pradesh.
DISCLAIMER: All information in this article is drawn from publicly available sources and/or insights provided by the experts consulted.