Indian travel vlogger claims ‘arrest’ by Afghan ‘Mujahideen’, seeks help

NEW DELHI: A popular Indian travel vlogger from Kerala, who has been travelling in Afghanistan and posting videos from the country, on Monday claimed that she had been "arrested" by the "Mujahideen" in Bamyan and appealed for help in contacting the Indian embassy.In a post on her Facebook page, the vlogger, "Backpacker Arunima", shared what she described as a translation of an official communication from local authorities, stating that she had been arrested by the Mujahideen in Afghanistan."You were arrested by Mujahideen just now because you do not have an official letter," the translated message read."Backpacker Arunima" also appealed for assistance in reaching the Indian embassy."If you anyone know Indian embassy please contact," she wrote.The veracity of the post could not be independently ascertained, and there was no immediate response from the Ministry of External Affairs.The post offered no further details about the circumstances of her alleged arrest or identified those who had detained her.Arunima has been travelling across Afghanistan and has shared several videos from the country on her social media accounts. She has more than 1.2 million followers on Instagram and 2.39 lakh on Facebook, while her YouTube channel has over 7.3 lakh subscribers.According to her social media profiles, she has spent the past six years hitchhiking through remote routes and documenting "rare and risky" regions.(With PTI inputs)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.