DHAKA: India on Tuesday retaliated strongly to the arrest of its deputy consul general in New York by initiating series of steps to strip US diplomats and their families of privileges including withdrawing all airport passes and stopping import clearances for the embassy.

Delhi police on Tuesday removed barricades from outside the US embassy to protest against the arrest of Indian envoy in US, reports The Times of India.

Asking all Consulate personnel and their families to turn in their ID cards immediately, the government has also sought key information such as salaries paid to all Indian staff employed at the Consulates and by Consulate officers and families including as domestic helps.

‘The government has asked for all US Consulate personnel’s ID cards and that of their families immediately. These will now be downgraded on par with what the US provides to our Consulates in US,’ sources said.

The government has asked the US to provide it with visa information and other details of all teachers at US schools and pay and bank accounts of Indians in these schools.

Apart from these measures, government has stopped all import clearances for the US embassy including for liquor.

BDST: 1908 HRS, DEC 17, 2013
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor