India

India: Security Tightened in Delhi

Date: December 6th, 2007 |

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]

India: Terror Threat in Mumbai (Bombay); New Guides in Delhi

Date: October 31st, 2007 |

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Police in Mumbai (Bombay) warned that suicide bombers were roaming the city looking for targets following a report from a taxi driver who had driven them to a Hindu temple, two mosques and two luxury hotels. He became suspicious when they began to discuss security at each place and asked him to deliver a bag [read more]

India: Disputed Siachen Glacier Now Open for Trekkers, Climbers

Date: September 19th, 2007 |

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The Siachen Glacier on the disputed border between India and Pakistan in Kashmir has one ignoble distinction: it is the world’s highest battlefield. At an altitude ranging from 16,400 to 24,000 feet, the glacier has been in dispute since 1984 when India occupied it. But now India has opened it up to tourists—mostly climbers and [read more]

India: Train Passengers Drugged, Robbed

Date: July 11th, 2007 |

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The second incident in a month of drugging and robbing train passengers occurred July 4 when 13 passengers aboard the Karnataka Express from Bangalore to Delhi were found unconscious in their compartment. They had eaten cookies laced with sedatives offered by the thieves and were rushed to the hospital still unconscious. All of their possessions [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: Monkeys in Delhi Get Riled Up

Date: November 15th, 2007 |

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Delhi is facing a monkey crisis as the city grows into the surrounding countryside forcing forest monkeys into urban areas. Recent incidents have locals worried that things are getting out of hand: Delhi’s deputy mayor died when he fell after a fight with monkeys, and a lone monkey on a rampage bit and scratched 25 [read more]

India: Agra Tourist Police on Patrol; City Shocked by Sexual Assault

Date: September 26th, 2007 |

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The first tourist police station in the state of Uttar Pradesh was commissioned Sept. 25 in Agra. Officers posted there will handle complaints of crime from foreign tourists and are fluent in English and at least one other language for better communication with foreigners. The move is coming none too soon because Agra has been [read more]

India: Bombay Tourism Police to Become Tourist Guides

Date: August 15th, 2007 |

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Bombay’s Tourism Police will be trained to be tourist guides as well as peace officers in a move to upgrade the branch’s image and improve the experience of tourists visiting the city. They will need to know the history of monuments and tourist attractions and also the history of the Bombay police department. Emphasis will [read more]

India: Dengue Fever in Delhi

Date: May 9th, 2007 |

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Delhi authorities are encouraging residents to take precautions against dengue fever now that monsoon rains have begun, in particular to eliminate mosquito breeding areas around their homes. Delhi and the surrounding area had a severe outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in 2006 and officials hope to prevent a similar crisis this year. The mosquito that [read more]