US embassy in India shuts due to risk of protests over anti-Islam film

NEW DELHI: The United States Embassy in New Delhi shut early on Friday, anticipating protests over a controversial anti-Islam film. As protests boiled over in neighbouring Pakistan and in Srinagar, the embassy shut early, and employees were asked to stay in the compound, sources said. Such a security measure by the US embassy in Delhi is a first in at least two decades.

Last week, after the US embassy in Benghazi was attacked and the ambassador to Libya killed, home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had announced that India would step up security at the embassy in Delhi and the four US consulates around the country.

A US embassy spokesperson declined comment, saying the embassy does not comment on security-related matters.

The embassy school also closed for the day and the embassy website carried an advisory for US citizens travelling in India, asking them to exercise caution and monitor local media for security updates.

Last week, the US consulate in Chennai faced angry demonstrators and remained shut for two days subsequently. “We don’t have a view on this. We are, as always, in regular contact with the embassy officials,” an external affairs ministry spokesperson said.

Authorities shut down cell phones and Internet services in Kashmir ahead of Friday prayers, anticipating protests. Large protests were reported from Anantnag and Baramullah, where police implemented prohibitory orders. Schools were also shut on Friday.

In Pakistan, thousands took to the streets to protest the film on a government-sponsored protest day, observed as ‘Love the Prophet day’. Violence that broke out between the police and protesters in the Islamic state left some 15 people dead and more than 160 wounded, agencies reported.

The low budget film “Innocence of Muslims” has been banned in India by Google, which owns the video-sharing website YouTube. The Indian government has condemned the video as “offensive”.