A ‘village volunteer’ stands guard at a bunker set up in conflict-hit Manipur.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The United States has asked its nationals not to travel to Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, the India-Pakistan border, and parts of central and eastern parts of the country where Naxalites are active.
In a revised travel advisory for India, the State Department said it has updated to reflect information on the northeastern States.
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“Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk,” it said.
Overall India has been placed at Level 2. But several parts of the country have been placed on Level 4: Jammu and Kashmir, India-Pak border, Manipur and parts of Central and East India.
“Do not travel to: The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest; within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict; portions of Central and East India due to terrorism and Manipur due to violence and crime,” said the State Department.
In addition, it recommended Americans to reconsider travel to the northeastern states due to terrorism and violence.
Naxal threats
Maoist extremist groups, or “Naxalites”, are active in a large area of India that spans from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal, the advisory said.
Attacks against officers of the Indian government continue to occur sporadically in the rural parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand that border Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. Southwest areas of Odisha are also affected. The Naxalites have carried out many terrorist attacks, targeting local police, paramilitary forces, and government officials, it said.
“US government employees traveling in India require prior approval before visiting the states of Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as when visiting any areas outside of the capital cities of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura,” it said.
