An Arunachal Pradesh resident faced a harrowing experience at Shanghai Airport, being held for more than 18 hours due to her Indian passport. Airport staff reportedly declared her passport invalid, asserting that Arunachal Pradesh belongs to China. Pema Wang Thongdok, the woman affected, recounted the ordeal on the X platform, expressing her distress. She described how her identity and place of birth were questioned, leading to the claim that her passport was not legitimate. Pema appealed to the Prime Minister’s Office, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju for assistance. Her post detailing the incident, which occurred on November 21, 2025, garnered widespread attention and anger online. Netizens reacted strongly, with many calling the treatment unacceptable and demanding swift action from India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Concerns were raised about the implications of such border claims on international travel.
