Popular Indian travel vlogger Anant Mittal, widely recognized by his online persona On Road Indian, faced a harrowing detention in China. The incident, which lasted approximately 15 hours, was triggered by his online comments concerning Arunachal Pradesh. Mittal shared the distressing details of his experience in a video posted on his social media platforms.
The Detention Ordeal: A Timeline of Events
The event unfolded on 16 November. According to Mittal's account, the moment he entered China, immigration officials stopped him. A sticker placed on his passport set off an alert in their system. He was then escorted to a detention area where he saw other foreign nationals being held.
"For two hours, no one spoke to me. That's when I realized the situation was serious," Mittal recounted. A Chinese officer later took him to a separate room, where his phone and camera were confiscated to prevent recording. However, they overlooked his iPad, which he used to secretly document parts of the ordeal.
Hours passed without any explanation. Mittal described feeling thirsty, scared, and uncertain about his fate. He was given water only once and his repeated requests for food went unanswered. As 12 to 13 hours elapsed, he broke down, connecting his detention to a video he had made supporting an Arunachal Pradesh citizen previously detained in China.
Emotional Aftermath and Clarifications
After 15 hours in custody, an officer informed him his "process" was complete and he must leave the country. A shaken Mittal has since returned safely to India. In emotional Instagram posts, he vehemently denied any political motivations.
"I have no hate for anyone. I just love everyone and share this world with you through my eyes. I'm not linked to any political agenda," he wrote. He explained his deep connection to Northeast India, having studied there for three years, which prompted his original video.
He expressed regret if his actions hurt anyone but emphasized he was "very small in front of these big powers." Mittal confirmed he uploaded the full story to YouTube of his own volition, not under pressure, stating, "I'm just speaking from the heart to everyone."
Social Media Erupts in Support and Debate
The viral video sparked significant reactions on social media. Many users defended Mittal for taking a stand on Arunachal Pradesh, while others questioned his resolve.
- One user urged him to write to India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to officially document the incident and seek an explanation from Chinese authorities.
- Another comment questioned, "Why are you scared of taking a stand for your country?"
- Others advised watching the full video before drawing conclusions, with some encouraging him not to back down, calling the detention "brutality."
- A contrasting view stated, "If you don’t have guts, then don’t travel and don’t make comments. But, if you do, then stand on it and be humble."
Mittal concluded his account by reiterating he is merely a simple travel vlogger with friends in China from his startup days, possessing no political links. He hoped both Indian and Chinese embassies understood his fear, adding in Hindi, "Hum bahot chhote log hain. Humaari koi aukaat nahi (We are very small people. We have no value at all)."
