Security
beefed up for Taj Mahal
27 Jul, 2008. AGRA: Security
has been tightened near the Taj Mahal in the wake of the bombings in Bangalore
and Ahmedabad.
The police stepped up
patrolling on the streets around the 17th century marble monument, India's
biggest tourist draw.
The Central Industrial
Security Force (CISF) protects the Taj Mahal. Armed personnel guard the
entire complex. Visitors pass through metal detectors.
Security measures were
intensified Saturday night at the Agra Cantonment railway station.
Railway authorities have
warned people to be alert against unclaimed luggage. Passengers alighting
from trains were searched randomly.
An unclaimed suitcase
found in a market complex at Nai ki Mandi here Saturday evening created
a scare. The police cordoned off the area and asked shopkeepers to pull
down the shutters before the bomb disposal squad found that the suitcase
only contained some clothes.
Agra's cloth merchants
are particularly worried over the Ahmedabad blasts. They fear their supplies
could be affected.
According to Senior Superintendent
of Police Raghuvir Lal, police personnel have been asked to keep an eye
on suspicious characters and warn the public not to touch unclaimed objects.
A string of bomb blasts
in Bangalore and Ahmedabad Friday and Saturday left at least 40 people
dead and more than 100 injured in the two cities.
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