Viral Video of Indian Student Handcuffed at Newark Airport Sparks Outrage and Embassy Response
A deeply disturbing video showing an Indian student being handcuffed, restrained, and pinned to the ground at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread condemnation and prompting a formal response from the Indian Embassy in the United States.
Incident Sparks Global Outcry
The video, filmed on June 8, 2025, by Indian-American entrepreneur Kunal Jain, shows a visibly distressed young Indian man surrounded by at least four security personnel. Two officers are seen pressing their knees into the student’s back while others tie his hands and legs. The student can be heard crying and yelling in Hindi, pleading, “Main pagal nahi hoon, yeh mujhe pagal bana rahe hain” (“I’m not mad, they are trying to prove that I’m mad”).
Jain shared the footage on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling the treatment “inhuman and heartbreaking.” He added, “He came chasing dreams, not causing harm. As an NRI, I felt helpless and heartbroken. This is a human tragedy.”
Eyewitness Account Reveals Shocking Details
Speaking to NDTV, Jain said that the student appeared confused and disoriented, likely due to stress or a breakdown in communication. According to him, airport officials and police did not understand the student’s language, which led to further complications.
“There were about 50 people around, but nobody dared to intervene. I tried to help translate what he was saying, but the officers did not allow me to speak,” Jain said.
He explained that the student was likely denied boarding because the airline considered him a “threat to other passengers” after his erratic behavior. “They should have handled it with more sensitivity,” Jain added, emotionally recalling how the student was dragged away in full view of dozens of passengers.
Indian Embassy Responds
The Indian Consulate in New York responded swiftly to public concern after the video went viral. In an official statement posted on June 9, the Embassy said:
“We have come across social media posts claiming that an Indian national is facing difficulties at Newark Liberty International Airport. We are in touch with local authorities in this regard. The Consulate remains ever committed to the welfare of Indian Nationals.”
While no further personal details about the student were disclosed, sources confirmed that he was deported back to India on the same day.
Legal and Human Rights Questions Raised
The incident has reignited concerns about how U.S. immigration authorities treat foreign nationals, especially students and asylum seekers. Human rights advocates argue that such methods—handcuffing, shackling, and public humiliation—should not be applied to individuals who are not charged with criminal offenses.
Legal experts have pointed out that the lack of language support and the refusal to allow a bilingual witness to intervene may have escalated the situation unnecessarily. Civil rights organizations have called for an investigation into whether protocols were violated.
Resurfacing of Past Deportation Incidents
This incident brings back painful memories of similar mass deportations under U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown on immigration. In February 2025, over 100 Indian migrants were flown back to India in shackles—hands cuffed, legs tied—drawing comparisons with the treatment of hardened criminals. That event had prompted outrage across India, especially from the political opposition, who questioned why the Indian government did not intervene sooner or send planes to retrieve its citizens with dignity.
Call for Humane Treatment and Policy Review
The latest incident has sparked a broader debate among Indian communities abroad, immigration advocates, and political observers about the vulnerability of international students and travelers, particularly in a climate of tightening immigration policies in the U.S.
Many are now demanding that the Indian government work more proactively to safeguard its citizens abroad, ensure fair treatment in immigration-related situations, and provide immediate consular access in such cases.
As investigations continue and the video continues to gain traction online, pressure is mounting on both the Indian and U.S. authorities to address the matter transparently and ensure such incidents are not repeated.
