US Govt issues controversial advisory asking American women to avoid traveling alone in India due to rape and criminal incidents

Washington DC (USA) – Due to increasing incidents of rape and other crimes in India, the US Government has issued a cautionary advisory for American women traveling in India. The US President Donald Trump’s administration has released a controversial travel advisory about India, stating that rape is one of the fastest-growing crimes in India, and cases of sexual harassment and violent crimes have been reported at tourist destinations and other places. Therefore, American citizens, especially women, should remain vigilant while traveling in such areas, the advisory states.

1. The rural areas spanning eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana to West Bengal are noted as regions where the US Government’s capacity to provide emergency services is limited.

2. Maoist insurgent groups or Naxalites are active in large parts of India. Attacks on Indian Government officials continue in the rural regions of states such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, etc., according to the advisory.

3. US Government employees working in India are advised to seek prior permission before traveling to rural areas of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Odisha, and other states.

4. US citizens are also advised not to travel to Manipur, which is affected by ethnic violence, and are additionally advised against traveling to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Editorial Perspective

The racial conflict between whites and blacks often reaches its peak in the US—to the extent that white Police officers kill black civilians. Shouldn’t India also issue a similar advisory for Indian citizens living in the US ?