An Indian entrepreneur in the U.S. has alleged that she was detained for over eight hours, interrogated about a power bank in her luggage, physically searched by a male officer, and denied even a phone call by American authorities at Alaska’s Anchorage airport.
Shruti Chaturvedi, the founder of the India Action Project and digital storytelling platform Chaaipani, took to X, tagging External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs, to narrate her ordeal.
She accused US police and the FBI of racial profiling, stating she was treated with undue suspicion simply because of her nationality.
“Imagine being detained by Police and FBI for 8 hours, being questioned about the most ridiculous things, physically checked by a male officer on camera, stripped off warm wear, mobile phone, wallet, kept in chilled room, not allowed to use a restroom, or make a single phone call, made to miss your flight – all because the airport security found your power bank in handbag ‘suspicious’. I don’t have to imagine, already past the worst 7 hours. And we all know why,” she wrote.
She further stated, “Anyway – the point is – out of India Indians are pretty powerless. Especially when you aren’t even allowed to make a phone call to anyone in India.”
Chaturvedi urged India to issue travel advisories for its citizens. The UK, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Denmark, and Finland have issued travel advisories to their citizens traveling to the USA.
“Regardless, if you’re an Indian traveling for tourism or work – be mentally prepared,” she added.
She also criticised MEA’s unresponsiveness, stating, “MEA won’t be available no matter how many contacts you have if it’s weekend or holiday. Your family and friends won’t be able to do anything.”
Reports of racial profiling against Indian citizens at American airports have surfaced time and again, raising ongoing concerns.
