Indian Embassy expresses concern over viral video of pupil brutally pinned to floor at US airport
The disturbing video reveals the coed pinned to the bottom whereas at the least 4 officers restrained him, with two of them urgent their knees into his again.
Movies exhibiting an Indian pupil being handcuffed and pinned to the bottom by authorities at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport in New Jersey earlier than his deportation have gone viral, sparking widespread outrage on social media.
The footage, first recorded by a witness and Indian-American entrepreneur Kunal Jain, captured the coed being restrained by at the least 4 officers, two of whom had their knees on his again. His fingers and legs had been tied.
Jain, who shared the video on social media platform X, wrote, “I witnessed a younger Indian pupil being deported from Newark Airport final night time — handcuffed, crying, handled like a felony. He got here chasing desires, not inflicting hurt. As an NRI, I felt helpless and heartbroken. It is a human tragedy.” He additionally appealed to the Indian Embassy within the US to look into the incident and supply assist to the coed.
Indian Consulate responds to viral video
A day later, the Indian Consulate in New York acknowledged the stories, saying they’d seen social media posts about an Indian nationwide dealing with difficulties on the airport.
“We’re in contact with native authorities on this regard. The Consulate stays ever dedicated to the welfare of Indian nationals,” it mentioned in a press release.
No one intervened
Recounting the incident to NDTV, Jain mentioned he had by no means seen such therapy meted out even to terrorists. “There have been about 50 individuals round, however nobody dared to intervene. The scholar appeared disoriented and probably agitated, which I imagine was why he was restrained so forcefully.
He was talking in a Haryanvi dialect, and the officers mentioned they could not perceive him. I provided to assist translate, however a police officer refused and as an alternative referred to as for extra police.”
The video has stirred reminiscences of earlier deportations of Indian nationals from the US.
In February, greater than 100 Indians have been despatched again below the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. A video launched by US Border Patrol on the time confirmed the deportees handcuffed and their legs shackled as they disembarked, pressured to shuffle in a line — a technique usually related to hardened criminals. That incident had drawn robust criticism from opposition leaders in India, who questioned why the federal government had not organized for a extra dignified return of its residents.
