New Delhi: In the wake of the strained diplomatic relations between India and the United States, the Delhi Police, on instructions of the Ministry of External Affairs, dismantled security barricades and spike strips around the U.S. Embassy complex in the high-security Chanakyapuri area here on Tuesday. It is learnt that the action is in response to a decision by the U.S. administration to convert a parking lot marked for the Indian consulate in Washington D.C. for general use.

Soon after the government announced a series of retaliatory measures in view of the arrest and handcuffing of Devyani Khobragade, the Indian Deputy Consul-General in New York, a team comprising senior officers from the traffic, security and the New Delhi district reached the embassy area around 4 p.m. Following a survey, the team initiated the process of removing all the security infrastructure around the U.S. Embassy along Nyaya Marg.

An earth-mover and two cranes were pressed into service to remove the barriers. The team first removed the barriers and spike strips at the rear lane of the embassy.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla.

“The action has been taken as a reciprocatory measure on the request of MEA. Accordingly, the barriers and barricades installed on Nyaya Marg have been removed and the road has been opened to public,” Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Taj Hassan said.

Mr. Hassan, however, said that no changes have been made in the security arrangement around the embassy. “There is no modification in the deployment of security personnel or police patrolling in the area. We have only cleared Nyaya Marg for general traffic,” said another police officer.