An Arunachal Pradesh–born woman has accused Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport of detaining and harassing her after they allegedly refused to recognise her Indian passport during a transit stop.
Prema Wangjom Thongdok, who currently resides in the United Kingdom, was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 with a scheduled three-hour layover in Shanghai. According to her account, immigration staff declared her Indian passport “invalid” because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace, allegedly telling her that “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China.”
Speaking to India Today TV, Prema said an immigration officer called her back from the security area, repeatedly shouting “India, India,” before informing her that passports with Arunachal Pradesh listed were not considered valid. When she questioned the reason, the official allegedly reiterated Beijing’s claim over the state.
Prema said she was shocked by the incident, noting that she had transited through the same airport last year without any issues. She also stated that she had checked with the Chinese Embassy in London beforehand, which assured her that Indian travellers would not face problems during transit.
The situation escalated, she alleged, when multiple immigration staff and China Eastern Airlines employees mocked her, laughed at her, and even suggested she “apply for a Chinese passport.” What should have been a short layover turned into an 18-hour ordeal, during which she claimed she was left without clear information, proper food, or access to airport facilities.
Prema further alleged that her passport was withheld and she was denied boarding on her connecting flight to Japan despite holding a valid visa. Confined to the transit area, she said she was unable to book alternative flights or move between terminals. She claimed officials pressured her to buy a new ticket solely through China Eastern, implying her passport would be returned only after doing so—resulting in significant financial losses from missed flights and hotel bookings.
Unable to resolve the issue alone, she eventually contacted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai with the help of a friend in the UK. Indian officials later intervened and escorted her to a late-night departure out of the city.
Prema has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior government officials, describing the treatment as “a direct insult to India’s sovereignty and to the citizens of Arunachal Pradesh.” She has requested that the Indian government raise the matter with Beijing, seek accountability from the immigration and airline staff involved, pursue compensation, and ensure that Indians from Arunachal Pradesh do not face similar obstacles while travelling internationally.
