Indian Woman 'Harassed' At Shanghai Airport: 'Arunachal Pradesh Is Part Of China'
''When I asked, she took me to the immigration desk and said, 'Arunachal, not valid passport'," revealed the Indian-origin UK resident from Arunachal Pradesh, who was allegedly harassed.
New Delhi: In a shocking incident, an Indian-origin UK resident from Arunachal Pradesh has alleged that the officials at the Shanghai airport detained and harassed her for hours after they refused to recognise her Indian passport during a transit halt.
What happened with her at the airport?
As per the reports she was identified as Pema Wangjom Thongdok and was travelling from London to Japan on November 21. During the three-hour layover at Shanghai Pudong Airport, Pema Wangjom Thongdok accused that the officers at the immigration counter stated that her passport was 'invalid' as it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth. She further revealed that the officials told her that 'Arunachal Pradesh is part of China."
What Pema Wangjom Thongdok revealed?
"After immigration, I submitted my passport and was waiting at security. Just then, an official came and started screaming, 'India, India,' with my name and singled me out. When I asked, she took me to the immigration desk and said, 'Arunachal, not valid passport'," reported India Today her as saying.
Reportedly, when Pema asked the reason why her Indian passport was not valid, the official simply replied, "Arunachal is a part of China. Your passport is invalid."
She further stated that she was stunned by the response given by the officials. She also mentioned that she had transited through Shanghai last year easily without any such issues. Further elaborating the incident, she alleged that a number of immigration officers and China Eastern Airlines staff teased her, and even suggested that she should "apply for a Chinese passport". She continued to add that due to all the issues the transit process took 18-hour duration and during the process, she claimed she was not provided proper information, food, etc.
What she urged PM Modi in her letter?
Pema continued to allege that the officials withheld her passport, and she was not allowed to board her own flight routed to Japan. Further she also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior officials. In her letter to PM Modi, she highlighted the incident and called the treatment as a "direct insult to India's sovereignty and to the citizens of Arunachal Pradesh".
