Keralam travel vlogger ‘safe’ in Afghanistan after facing arrest threat

Keralam travel vlogger Arunima I P has reassured her followers of her safety in Afghanistan after a previous post sparked alarm about her arrest in Bamyan

PALAKKAD: Keralam travel vlogger Arunima I P, who is touring Afghanistan solo, said Tuesday that she was “safe”. Her statement comes a day after she posted a distress message on a social media site saying she had been threatened with arrest by authorities in Bamyan for travelling alone, without a male companion or guide, reports V M Subair.Popular online as Backpacker Arunima, the vlogger hails from Ottapalam in Palakkad, Kerala. Her post seeking help to contact the Indian embassy had triggered concern.

She had shared a translated message saying she had been “arrested by mujahideen” for not having an official letter. “I’m in trouble in Afghanistan. I’m in Bamyan,” she had written. In a subsequent post, Arunima clarified that she was not taken to a police station or prison. Residents in Bamyan had asked her to show her passport, visa and travel permit.As the situation grew tense, Arunima contacted a local man who had earlier helped her reach Bamyan. He intervened and spoke to the authorities on her behalf. She was eventually allowed to continue her journey without obtaining a permit.