Indian entrepreneur narrates ordeal at US airport: Stripped, detained and harassed
Shruti Chaturvedi alleges 8-hour detention, frisked by male officer, denied restroom access and phone call over a “suspicious” power bank in her handbag.
Indian entrepreneur Shruti Chaturvedi’s vacation in Alaska took a horrific turn when she was detained for eight hours at Alaska’s Anchorage airport by US authorities.
The reason? A power bank in her handbag that airport security deemed “suspicious.” What followed was an ordeal that has now triggered outrage on social media.
Chaturvedi, who is the founder of India Action Project and Chaaipani, claims she was stripped of her warm clothing, kept in a cold room, questioned by the US police and the FBI, and physically checked by a male officer — on camera.
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No basic rights
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Chaturvedi detailed her traumatic experience. She said she was denied access to a restroom, not allowed to make a single phone call, and had her wallet and phone confiscated.
Her flight was missed, and she was left without proper explanation or redress.
“Imagine being questioned the most ridiculous things, stripped off warm wear, physically checked by a male officer, and made to miss your flight,” she wrote.
“I don’t have to imagine, already past the worst 7 hours. And we all know why,” she added.
A diplomatic concern?
Chaturvedi tagged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs, drawing attention to what she sees as unjust and possibly discriminatory treatment.
Her post has since gone viral, raising questions about the treatment of Indian travellers at US ports of entry.
This incident underscores growing concerns among international travellers, especially as immigration checks grow increasingly stringent in the United States.
Chaturvedi’s story has become part of a larger conversation about dignity, privacy, and racial profiling.
Outrage and solidarity
Chaturvedi later revealed she only shared her experience after safely exiting the US. Her post sparked a wave of support and renewed demands for Indian diplomatic intervention in such cases.
The incident has added to global travel concerns, with nations like Germany and Canada updating their travel advisories to the US amid rising reports of tourist detentions.
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