An Arunachal Pradesh-born woman of Indian origin, who resides in the UK, has alleged that Chinese immigration officials detained and harassed her for hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport after refusing to acknowledge her Indian passport.
Prema Wangjom Thongdok, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh and currently lives in the UK, was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 with a three-hour layover at Shanghai Pudong Airport. She claimed that immigration officers declared her passport “invalid” solely because it mentioned Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth, and that officials told her, “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China.”
She alleged that several immigration officers and China Eastern Airlines staff mocked and laughed at her, even telling her to “apply for a Chinese passport.”
What was supposed to be a short transit turned into an 18-hour ordeal inside the airport, during which she was allegedly denied clear information, proper food, and access to airport facilities.
Prema alleged that her passport was withheld and she was prevented from boarding her onward flight to Japan despite holding a valid visa.
She claimed that she was confined to the transit area, where she was unable to rebook her tickets, buy meals, or move between terminals.
She further claimed that officials pressured her to purchase a new ticket exclusively on China Eastern and hinted that her passport would be returned only after she complied, resulting in financial losses from missed flights and hotel bookings.
She eventually managed to reach the Indian Consulate in Shanghai through a friend in the UK. Indian officials later escorted her to a late-night departure from the Chinese city.
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In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior officials, Prema described the treatment she faced as a “direct insult to India’s sovereignty and to the people of Arunachal Pradesh.”
She has urged the Indian government to take up the matter with Beijing, seek accountability and disciplinary action against the immigration and airline staff involved, and pursue compensation.
