Handcuffed, crying, ‘treated like a criminal': MIT alumni shares shocking video of Indian student deportee
Indian student handcuffed, pinned to the floor at a US airport before being deported — visuals of such a moment — has been doing the rounds on social media.
The person who posted the video, Kunal Jain, who is also a Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) alumni, claimed that the student was 'treated like a criminal.' As per his post, the harrowing scene unfolded at Newark Airport, New Jersey. Tagging the Indian Embassy and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Jain made an urgent appeal for intervention.
"I witnessed a young Indian student being deported from Newark Airport last night—handcuffed, crying, treated like a criminal," Jain wrote. "He came chasing dreams, not causing harm. As an NRI, I felt helpless and heartbroken. This is a human tragedy."
According to Jain, the student—who appeared disoriented and terrified—was supposed to be on the same flight as him, to India, but never boarded it.
'This poor kid's parents likely have no idea what's happening to him,' he added. 'Someone needs to find out what's going on with him at the New Jersey authorities.'
In his X post, Jain noted that the student was possibly from Haryana, which he deduced from the student's accent. He was frantically yelling, 'I am not crazy… they are hell-bent on proving I am crazy!'
As per the Ministry of External Affairs, Donald Trump's administration, since assuming power in January 2025, has deported as many as 1,080 Indian nationals from America.
Among the deported students, was also Ranjini Srinivasan, a 37-year-old Indian PhD student from Columbia University, who self-deported to Canada after her student visa was revoked for allegedly being a "terror sympathizer."
In an interview with Al Jazeera, she had even shared that she felt 'betrayed' by her alma mater – Columbia University.
"I spent five years at Columbia University, working, I don't know, maybe 100 hours a week sometimes. I never expected the institution to let me down. But it did," Ranjini Srinivasan had shared with the media outlet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
19 minutes ago
- India Today
Indian Navy, UK Carrier Strike Group conduct high-tempo drill in North Arabian Sea
After a month-long high-alert deployment during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy has conducted a high-tempo Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the United Kingdom's Carrier Strike Group in the strategic North Arabian drill, held on June 9 and 10, featured Indian naval assets including the stealth frigate INS Tabar, a submarine, and the long-range maritime patrol aircraft P-8I. The UK's naval contingent included HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond. advertisementThe exercise highlighted advanced operational coordination and interoperability between the two forces. With synchronised tactical manoeuvres and unified helicopter control operations, both navies demonstrated their readiness and high-end combat capabilities. The professional exchange of officers further cemented the bond between the Indian and Royal Navies, reinforcing ties beyond routine joint drills. This engagement comes on the heels of the Indian Navy's prominent role in Operation Sindoor, where it was forward-deployed in the North Arabian Sea. The exercise served as a testament to the operational strength and combat preparedness of Indian naval units, both surface and underwater. Indian submarines and warships were instrumental in executing complex maritime tasks during the operation, earning them recognition as some of the most capable units joint PASSEX carries strategic significance due to its location. The North Arabian Sea remains a critical maritime corridor for global trade, including essential energy shipments. Conducting joint drills in this region reflects a shared commitment by India and the United Kingdom to maintaining maritime stability, safeguarding sea lines of communication, and projecting a credible naval presence in the exercise also reflects the growing maritime collaboration between the two nations, emphasising a rules-based international order and underscoring the Indo-Pacific's importance in global geopolitics. As regional maritime threats evolve, this coordinated show of strength reaffirms the collective deterrence posture of both InMust Watch
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Setback for India: Jairam Ramesh after US general praises Pakistan's terror fight
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the Indian government on Wednesday over recent remarks by a top United States military official praising Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts. Taking to X, Ramesh wrote, 'Recently, the head of the US Central Command called Pakistan a 'great partner in the counter-terrorism campaign'. What will our Prime Minister and his ovation say to this? Is this not a diplomatic setback for India?'advertisementHis statement followed US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla's testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, where the outgoing commander described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in counter-terrorism comments came at a time when India had been actively campaigning to expose Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism, particularly after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April. During the hearing, General Kurilla urged Washington not to adopt a zero-sum approach in South Asia, stating that the US must maintain strategic relations with both India and Pakistan."We need to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India,' he said. 'We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has.'advertisementKurilla's remarks came even as India stepped up diplomatic efforts to hold Pakistan accountable for its alleged role in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people on April 22. In response, India carried out precision air strikes on terror infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May military escalation ended on May 10 after the Directors General of Military Operations from both countries reached an officials, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, had reiterated that India would not accept any equivalence between victims of terrorism and the perpetrators. New Delhi also expressed concern over multiple international responses that appeared to hyphenate India and Pakistan during the brief military Kurilla, who is expected to retire later this summer, also spoke about Pakistan's role in combatting the Islamic State's regional affiliate, ISIS-Khorasan, also known as IS-KP. He acknowledged efforts by the Pakistani military and army chief General Asim Munir in countering the terror Watch
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Federal judge says Donald Trump cannot detain Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil, then does this...
A US federal judge passed a ruling on Wednesday stating that the Donald Trump administration cannot keep using US foreign policy interests as a means to justify the detention of Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. However, he then delayed the release order, saying that the ruling will not come into effect until Friday, according to a Reuters report. Judge Michael Farbiarz was quoted saying in his order that the ruling would not immediately take effect, and that the administration has until 9:30 am Friday to respond to this latest ruling. This new ruling comes soon after another order passed last Thursday, preventing the Trump administration from arresting a Columbia University student, Yunseo Chung, 21, whom it is seeking to detain and deport to South Korea ever she participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this year. According to reports, Chung never lived in South Korea since she was 7 years of age. Meanwhile, in another development, Noor Abdalla, 28, wife of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, was interviewed by Reuters, after which she appeared for a portrait.
