Warning to Westerners

Johnny_Brasco

I have also posted this in the Health and Well Being Forum...

I am an American who arrived in New Dehli on 8 October, having just flown over Pakistan just as the air raids were starting. On 9 October, I experienced an unfortunate and scary incident at my hostel. (Since I have to make this brief, I will not tell the whole story.) A supposed reporter called the hostel and asked to interview any Americans staying there. The desk clerk was willing to make formal introductions as I just happened to be standing in the lobby and he knew I was from the US. This scared me to begin with but the content of the phone call led me to strongly believe that the person on the other end was not a reporter.

My point in posting this story is to advise all Americans who are travelling to India, and especially to Dehli: If you are staying at a hostel (even those recommended by lonely planet), you should assume that your nationality is public knowledge. I stayed at two hostels in New Dehli and just from standing behind the counter, I was able to tell the nationalities, names, and room numbers of the ten people who had checked in before me, at both hostels!

Also, consider that the State Department has given a warning (as reported in The Hindu newspaper) to students at the American School (an American school for Americans in New Dehli) to not walk around alone in crowded places in Dehli. Furthermore, they've warned that if any American School students feel they are being followed, to report it to the police!

I suspect that this warning went out to American School students only and not to travelers in general because, obviously, if you're seen walking out of a school that's called the *American* School, you're a prime target.

I am not trying to overly scare anyone!!! Just the facts!!! After all that happened I am still in India and I am enjoying myself!!! My opinion is that the danger is *not* big enough to warrant cancelling travel plans. I do believe, however, that you should be cautious and aware of the risks you take by staying at a hostel (vs. a hotel) in New Dehli.

(BTW, I'm speaking mainly of New Dehli because it is the capital and it is in the north, which makes it one of the likeliest places in India for anything to happen. If you are in southern India, I really don't think there's a problem at all.)

JP