Devyani Khobragade's arrest: angry India takes reciprocal steps

New Delhi: Furious with the US for the arrest and alleged strip search of its high-ranking diplomat Devyani Khobragade, India today retaliated with a slew of measures to pare down the privileges of American diplomats. (10 latest developments)

US diplomats in consulates across India have been asked to surrender identity cards issued to them and their families, which entitle them to special privileges. India has also withdrawn all airport passes for consulates and import clearances for the embassy.

The Delhi police removed barricades outside the sprawling US embassy in the capital.

Ms Khobragade was subjected to a humiliating strip search and was kept in a cell with drug addicts after her arrest for alleged visa fraud in New York last week. (Read) Noel Clay, a spokesperson for the US State Department, told NDTV that standard procedures had been followed during Ms Khobragade's arrest.

The US has implied that she enjoyed only limited immunity.

As part of its reciprocal measures, India is asking for details like salaries paid to Indian staff employed in US consulates, including those working as domestic helps with the families of American officials.

New Delhi has also asked for the visa details of all teachers at US schools, details of their salary and their bank accounts.

Senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi have refused to meet a visiting US Congress delegation. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar had also cancelled their meetings with the Americans. (Read: Rahul Gandhi, Sushil Kumar Shinde snub US delegation)

Mr Menon has described Ms Khobragade's treatment as "despicable and barbaric."