India's response to the arrest and alleged ill-treatment of its diplomat Devyani Khobragade, including removal of security barriers in front of the US Embassy in New Delhi and other similar actions, has been described in the mainstream American media as "revenge".

The Hill reported it as "an act of revenge", while The New York Times and The Washington Times described it as a "retaliatory" measure, and so did other media outlets.

"The clash between the two supposed allies escalated rapidly on the heels of last week's arrest of Devyani Khobragade, India's deputy consul general in New York. She was accused of submitting false documents to obtain a work visa for her Manhattan housekeeper," Fox News reported.

"India retaliated for the arrest of one of its diplomats in New York by dismantling security barriers on streets around the US Embassy in New Delhi and revoking some privileges given to American consular officials," the Wall Street Journal said.

"The way an Indian diplomat was treated by law enforcement officials in New York last week has touched off a furore in India, where politicians from across the political spectrum expressed outrage and the New Delhi police retaliated by removing security barriers that were meant to protect the American Embassy," the New York Times reported.

"Authorities in India removed security barriers in front of the US Embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday in an act of revenge after the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York last week," the Hill reported.

The Slate said there is a "major diplomatic rift" developing between the United States and India over the arrest of the Indian diplomat.