India issues strong demarche to China over harassment of Arunachal Pradesh woman at Shanghai airport

India on Monday issued a strong demarche to the Chinese side, both in Beijing and in New Delhi, over the alleged harassment of an Indian national from Arunachal Pradesh by immigration officials at Shanghai airport.

According to sources, the Indian Consulate in Shanghai raised the issue at the local level and ensured the safe departure of the Indian national.

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The sources said the woman, identified as Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a native of Arunachal Pradesh, was detained on “ludicrous” grounds.

In the demarche, India clearly stated that Arunachal Pradesh is an indisputable part of Indian territory and that its residents are fully entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports.

“A strong demarche was made with the Chinese side in Beijing and in Delhi on the same day the incident took place. Our Consulate in Shanghai also took up the matter locally and extended full assistance to the stranded passenger,” news agency ANI quoted a source as saying.

The development comes hours after Prema Wangjom Thongdok narrated the ordeal she faced at the airport.

Thongdok, who resides in the UK, alleged that immigration officials told her she was “not an Indian” because “Arunachal is part of China” and asked her to apply for a Chinese passport instead.

“One of the officials from Chinese immigration came over and singled me out of the queue. I asked her what was happening, and she said, ‘Arunachal—not India, China-China. Your visa is not acceptable. Your passport is invalid.’ When I tried to question them, they said, ‘Arunachal is not part of India,’ and started mocking and laughing, saying things like, ‘You should apply for a Chinese passport; you’re Chinese, you’re not Indian,’” she said.

Thongdok criticised the airline staff of China Eastern and the immigration officers for their humiliating behaviour.

“The airline staff of China Eastern and about two other immigration officers were speaking in their language, pointing at me and saying ‘Arunachal,’ laughing and calling it China, not India. That was very humiliating and highly questionable behaviour from both the immigration staff and the airline staff,” she said.

Thongdok asserted that the people of Arunachal Pradesh are Indian and urged the Government of India to raise the issue at the diplomatic level with the Chinese authorities.