Ex-servicemen set to become tourist cops in UP

Lucknow, June 12 (UNI) After Agra and Varanasi, the city of Nawabs will soon have tourist police protecting unsuspecting tourists from being duped by touts.

The state tourism department has decided to appoint ex-servicemen as tourist cops in the state capital. The project is successfully running in the city of Taj and religious city of Varanasi.

The announcement to this effect was made by UP Director General (Tourism) Parthsarthy Sen Sharma.

Tourism Police will be posted at the prominent areas in the city to help foreign tourists find their destination and to stop people from duping them. Regional tourism office has been asked to appoint one inspector, two sub-inspectors and 12 constables selected from ex-Armymen.

The Tourism department formed the Tourism Police in 2003-04 after regular reports of harassment of foreign tourists from various cities.

In Agra, the project has worked out well since a large number of foreigners come to see the Taj.

In Varanasi too, it has been a very successful venture. Two outposts have been strategically located near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the ghats of Ganga.

The tourist cops are good translators and at times help tourists get a good deal.

UNI