Viral video showing Indian-origin student pinned down at US airport before deportation sparks outrage

A video has gone viral on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showing an Indian-origin student being forcefully pinned to the ground by US police officials at Newark Airport before being deported to India. 

Kunal Jain, another Indian national who witnessed the incident, shared the video on his X handle, showing the student being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by police officers.

“I witnessed a young Indian student being deported from Newark Airport last night handcuffed, crying, treated like a criminal. He came chasing dreams, not causing harm. As an NRI, I felt helpless and heartbroken,” he wrote. 

Jain described the incident as a ‘human tragedy’ and tagged the Indian Embassy in the US, urging them to intervene.

In another post, Jain added, “His poor parents won’t know what’s happening to him. @IndianEmbassyUS @DrSJaishankar he was supposed to board the same flight as mine last night, but he never did.” he wrote.

He further added that “Someone needs to find out what’s going on with him under the custody of New Jersey authorities. He appeared disoriented.”

In the post, Jain said that the student is heard speaking in Haryanvi, saying, “Main pagal nahi hoon, ye log mujhe pagal sabit karne mein lage hain” (I’m not mad; they’re trying to prove that I’m mad).

Following the video’s circulation online, the Indian National Congress demanded answers from the central government and called for justice for Indians living in the US.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the Modi government, stating, “The Modi Government is failing to protect the honour of India and Indians.”

He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter directly with US President Donald Trump, seeking intervention in what he termed “atrocities” against Indian nationals and growing fear among Indian students in the US.

The Congress also posted a statement on its official X account, asserting that Indians should not be insulted in such a manner. The post mentioned past incidents of Indian nationals being deported in chains and handcuffs and asked the Prime Minister pointed questions–

- Why is Narendra Modi silent on the nation’s insult?

- What is Modi afraid of?

- What is this drumbeat all about?

The party called for justice for the affected student and accountability from the Indian government.

Replying to the controversy on viral video Indian Embassy US posted on X and said "The United States continues to welcome legitimate travelers to our country.  However, there is no right to visit the United States.  We cannot and will not tolerate illegal entry, abuse of visas, or the violation of US law."