India relocates staff in Sittwe consulate to Yangon, MEA Advises Indians Not To Travel To Iran, Israel

India on Friday said it has relocated its staff from its consulate in Myanmarese city of Sittwe to Yangon in view of the precarious security situation in that region of Myanmar.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is closely monitoring the security situation in that country.

“We are closely monitoring the security situation in Myanmar, particularly in the Rakhine State. Necessary steps have been taken to ensure the safety of our citizens,” he said at his weekly media briefing.

“We have temporarily relocated our staff at CGI (Consulate General of India) Sittwe to Yangon. Our Consulate in Mandalay remains fully functional,” Jaiswal said.

After the United States and France, India on Friday also advised all its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran and Israel amid the fear of escalated attacks in the Middle East. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a travel advisory and urged all Indians not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice. The MEA also requested all those currently residing in Iran or Israel to get in touch with Indian Embassies there and register themselves.

In its travel advisory, the MEA said, “In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice. All those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel are requested to get in touch with Indian Embassies there and register themselves. They are also requested to observe utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum.”

Earlier, the MEA said that India has noted the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria. “We have noted with concern the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria on 1st April 2024. India is distressed at the escalating tensions in West Asia, and their potential to fuel further violence and instability. We urge all parties to avoid actions that go against commonly accepted principles and norms of International Law,” the MEA said.

The external affairs ministry said it has seen reports of the Taliban Justice Ministry taking steps to restore property to displaced members of the Hindu and Sikh communities and said it is a “positive development”.

“We have seen reports on this issue. If the Taliban Administration has decided to restore property rights to their citizens belonging to Afghan Hindu and Sikh community, we see this as a positive development,” the ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The news of restoration of properties of displaced members of the Hindu and Sikh communities was first reported by The Hindu, which cited a senior Taliban official.

The report named the official as Suhail Shaheen, head of the political office of the Taliban.

The report said that Taliban has set up a commission to ensure return of Hindu and Sikh families who have played a historic role in the Afghan economy.

The Government of India also condemned the deaths of Indian students in the United States and said the cases have been appropriately taken up with the authorities in America to seek justice.

At least 10 cases of deaths involving Indian or Indian-origin students in the US have been reported since January this year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing in New Delhi on Friday.

“There have been some unfortunate incidents resulting in the death of Indian students in the US. These cases are under investigation. The Embassy and Consulates have extended all possible help,” he said.

“Since January, there have been 10 odd Indian students who have passed away. One was a case of homicide which was registered against a vagrant person. This was the most unfortunate of Vivek Saini. Then, there was a case in which the victim as shot at. So these are the two cases which are being investigated from the point of view of law and order. We are pushing very hard to ensure justice is served,” he said.