Indian government restricts travel to Yemen

NEW DELHI: After long effort that led to the rescue of abducted Father Tom Uzhunnalil from Yemen, Indian government has now restricted travel of Indian nationals to Yemen and made Indian passports and travel documents invalid for travel to Yemen.

Father Tom was abducted on March 4, 2016, in an incident of terrorist attack in Aden by an unidentified group and was finally rescued and brought to India on September 28 this year and met PM Modi and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

Father Tom went to Yemen in 2015 despite the government advisory against travel due to adverse security situation there. The government now in an order says despite these advisories, some Indians have continued to travel to Yemen.

“It is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby the following directions, namely the passport or travel document issued by the central government is invalid for the travel of holder to Yemen as the travel of the holder to Yemen would seriously impair the conduct of foreign affairs of the Government of India; any Indian national who travels to Yemen in violation of this notification shall be liable for action and the passport shall be liable for impounding or revocation,” the latest order says.

“Any recruiting agent or a company sending Indian nationals to Yemen shall be individually or collectively held responsible...,” the order further says. Indian government officials can still travel to Yemen for attending their official duties. At an express request of an applicant, the directions may be relaxed by the government for specific and essential reasons of travel.