New Delhi: The alleged harassment of an Indian transgender woman in Alaska, USA has created a storm on social media. This young woman named Shruti Chaturvedi was held hostage for 8 hours at Anchorage airport, her clothes were removed and she was searched by male officers. Shruti shared this horrific experience on social media, after which people are shocked and raising questions as to why Indians are repeatedly targeted at US airports?

What happened to Shruti?

Shruti was at Anchorage airport to return to India. There was a power bank in her bag, which the security personnel considered suspicious. What happened after this was nothing less than a nightmare. Shruti wrote on her X handle, “I was separated from other passengers and taken to a cold room. My phone and wallet were snatched. Police and FBI interrogated me for 8 hours. A male officer searched my body in front of the camera. I was forced to remove my winter clothes. I was not even allowed to go to the bathroom.” Shruti told that during the interrogation, she was asked strange and unrelated questions. Despite repeated requests, she was not allowed to make a phone call. After this 8-hour torture, she was released, but by then she had missed her flight. After reaching India, she shared this entire experience and tagged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and demanded justice. Not an isolated incident Shruti’s experience is not the first case. Indians have been treated like this many times before at American airports. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan was stopped for hours at New Jersey airport in 2009. Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra have also been victims of such incidents. But Shruti’s story is also shocking because it crossed the limits of physical and mental harassment.

“I was feeling humiliated”

Shruti wrote in her post, “I did not understand why this happened to me. So much fuss over a power bank? I was feeling humiliated and helpless.” Her post went viral rapidly, and people questioned the attitude of American officials. One user wrote, “This is a combination of racism and gender discrimination. The Indian government should take strict action on this.”

Why are Indians targeted again and again?

This question is now in everyone’s mind that why only Indian passengers are harassed at American airports. Security expert Ramesh Thakur says, “Profiling is a practice in American security policies. Indians are often considered suspicious, especially if something unusual is seen in their identity or luggage. But what happened in Shruti’s case is a violation of human rights.” Thakur believes that diplomatic intervention is necessary in such cases. Transgender identity and additional challenge
Shruti’s transgender identity made this incident more complicated. Social activist Anita Verma says, “Transgender passengers often have to face additional scrutiny and disrespect. The frisking by male officials was not only insensitive but also an attack on their dignity.” This incident also highlights the lack of gender sensitivity.
Indian government’s silence
Shruti has appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene, but no official statement has come yet. In previous cases, India had talked to the US at the diplomatic level, after which an apology was made. But this time, as the matter is serious, people are expecting concrete action from the government. An official said on the condition of anonymity, “We are investigating it. Appropriate action will be taken soon.”
What next?
Shruti’s story is not only a story of personal suffering, but it also raises questions about the rights of Indians during international travel. Will this incident bring tension in India-US relations? Or will it remain another unheard story? People on social media have come out in support of Shruti, and a debate has started on the issue.

Final View

Shruti’s story of being held hostage and humiliated in a cold room for 8 hours at an American airport is heartbreaking. It is not just a woman’s suffering, but a proof of the insensitivity of the system. Do you think strict steps should be taken to protect Indians from such incidents? Share your opinion with us.