India

India: Agra Opens Police Web Site for Complaints

Date: March 6th, 2008 |

Travelers who feel harassed in Agra can now register complaints on a police web site at www.cybercellagra.com. Whether complaints registered there do more than alert police to problems remains to be seen, but the move suggests that authorities are serious about aiding victims of petty crime while visiting the [read more]

India: Security Tightened on Air India and Indian Airlines Flights, at Airports and in Other Areas

Date: February 20th, 2008 |

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Security was tightened on all Air India and Indian Airlines international flights after Indian intelligence agencies reported a hijacking threat Feb. 18. The warning specifically applied to flights heading to or departing from Persian Gulf destinations, but airport staff throughout the country are on full alert for all international flights by the two carriers. The [read more]

India: Sexual Assaults on the Rise around Country

Date: January 17th, 2008 |

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Several foreign tourists have alleged that they were molested or raped in recent weeks in the states of Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, prompting the national government to call a meeting of tourism heads from all states to discuss ways to increase security for tourists. Four separate incidents were reported in Goa in just the [read more]

India: Visa Applications Must Be Made Online

Date: December 26th, 2007 |

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Getting a visa to visit India now requires an application filled out online. The new regulation began Oct. 1 and is intended to streamline the application process. Once filled out, the form must be printed and mailed with other papers, including proof of state residence such as a copy of a driver’s license or utility [read more]

India: Five Bombs in Three Cities in Uttar Pradesh

Date: November 29th, 2007 |

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Five bomb blasts occurred almost simultaneously in three cities Nov. 23, killing at least 13 people in Varanasi, Lucknow and Faizabad. All five bombs appeared to have been on bicycles parked in civil court complexes. Police believe the bombings were in retaliation for alleged mistreatment of Islamic terrorist suspects arrested for other bombings. A group [read more]

India: Airport Workers’ Strike Postponed

Date: February 27th, 2008 |

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A strike by 18,000 airport workers that was set for Feb. 26 has been postponed until March 10 to give the government time to negotiate a settlement. If the strike does go ahead as planned in March it will cause flight delays and possibly protests in and around airports. In other news, Hyderabad was put [read more]

India: Government to Deploy Retired Military to Protect Foreign Tourists

Date: January 30th, 2008 |

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Still reeling from a series of sexual assaults on foreign women in recent weeks, India’s federal government has decided to deploy thousands of retired defense personnel to provide security for foreign tourists. Some 60,000 servicemen retire each year. Dedicated security phone numbers will be introduced in all major tourist areas, and the courts will put [read more]

India: Puri Police to Require Tourists to Report Their Travel Plans

Date: January 10th, 2008 |

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Police in Orissa’s temple city of Puri are going to enforce a law seldom obeyed that requires foreign tourists to inform police of their travel plans outside the city. Hotels now need to file guest lists with police and inform visitors of their need to reveal their plans. An assault on a German tourist by [read more]

India: Security Tightened in Delhi

Date: December 6th, 2007 |

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Security has been tightened in Delhi after intelligence reports revealed that two militant Islamic groups may be planning attacks in the city. The reports, released Dec. 3, warned that attacks could take place within two weeks, with the main threat in marketplaces and crowded areas such as malls and transit stations. Police have deployed bomb [read more]

India: U.S. Dollars No Good at Taj Mahal, Other Venues

Date: November 20th, 2007 |

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The weakness of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies is old news, but now even in India the dollar’s woes are getting people’s attention and moving government to change policies. The culture ministry abandoned it’s long-standing practice of pricing entrance to World Heritage Sites such as the Taj Mahal in dollars for foreigners because the [read more]