American centres bar visitors with e-gadgets

Following a security assessment, the US embassy here has barred visitors from carrying laptops, tablets or iPads in the American Centres in the national capital, Mumbai and Kolkata from today.

All kinds of electronic devices are already banned at the Chennai centre.

The US, which undertook such security exercise at all its government establishments worldwide, said the safety of its guests and personnel is "paramount".

The restriction on "personal electronics" will apply to all models of laptops and tablets, including netbooks, chromebooks, iPads, Kindles, and MacBooks, a US embassy statement said.

"This change was made as part of an assessment of security in US government facilities worldwide. The safety of our guests and personnel is paramount," a US Embassy spokesperson said.

However, the visitors will be allowed to carry mobile phones in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, unlike in the Chennai centre.

The statement also emphasised that there will be no facility for visitors to store these devices.