GUWAHATI: In a revised travel advisory for India, the United States has urged its citizens to reconsider visiting India’s northeastern states due to the risk of sporadic violence in the region.
The advisory has placed the northeastern states under Level 3, which pertains to “reconsider travel”, while Manipur falls under Level 4, which refers to “do not travel”.
The advisory recommended Americans to reconsider travel to the northeastern states due to terrorism and violence.
“Do not travel to Manipur due to the threat of violence and crime. Ongoing ethnic-based civil conflict has resulted in reports of extensive violence and community displacement. Attacks against Indian government targets occur on a regular basis. US government employees traveling in India require prior approval before visiting Manipur,” the advisory, which was updated on July 23, read.
“Ethnic insurgent groups occasionally commit acts of violence in parts of the northeast. These incidents include bombings of buses, trains, rail lines, and markets,” the advisory stated.
It noted that there have been “no recent reports of violence” in Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, or Tripura.
The advisory by the US Department of State 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.”
Assessing the rising incidents of terrorism, conflicts, and crime across the nation, overall India has been placed at Level 2.
Other parts of India that fall under Level 4 as per the advisory include Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh), parts of central and east India, and areas within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border.
