• Source:JND
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A resurfaced bodycam video from New Jersey has reignited debate after showing two Indian students being arrested for shoplifting at a grocery store. The incident, which took place in March 2024, involved students from Hyderabad and Guntur, and is now drawing attention again amid a string of similar cases involving Indian nationals in the United States.

The case occurred at a ShopRite outlet in Hoboken, where two students, Bhavya Linganagunta, 20, and Yamini Valkalpudi, 22, were caught attempting to walk out with 27 unpaid items worth USD 155.61 (about Rs 13,600). According to police reports, they had only paid for two items at the counter. Store employees alerted authorities, who quickly arrived at the scene.

The arrest was captured on police body cameras, and the footage later spread widely on social media. In the video, officers informed the students that they would be arrested, taken to the station, and required to appear in court at a later date.

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Students’ Defence Falls Flat

The women, both pursuing higher studies at the Stevens Institute of Technology, attempted to explain themselves. They claimed they had a “limited balance” and had “forgotten to pay” for the additional goods. One even offered to pay double on the spot to avoid arrest.

Their pleas, however, did not persuade officers. The students were asked to sign a form promising not to return to that ShopRite outlet before being handcuffed and escorted into a police vehicle.

Video Resurfaces Amid Similar Cases

Although the arrest first drew headlines in 2024, the video has resurfaced in September 2025, as US authorities continue to report shoplifting incidents involving Indian students. The circulation of the clip has once again sparked conversations online about cultural adaptation, financial stress, and the reputational risks faced by international students abroad.

Career Anxiety On Camera

Perhaps the most striking moment in the footage comes when one of the women, visibly shaken, asks police whether the arrest would affect her career prospects. “Will this affect us for the H-1B process or any job?” she asked. The officer replied bluntly: “Yes! If they run your information, it’s going to show that you were arrested.”

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This exchange highlights the potentially severe consequences of such incidents for international students, whose academic and professional futures often hinge on maintaining a clean record.