Lax security at Taj Mahal

Agra, Nov.26 (ANI): The Taj Mahal faced lax security as the close circuit television cameras and other surveillance gadgets are not working despite high threat perception to the monument.

The Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) guards the inner parts of the Taj Mahal complex or the 'red zone' while the outer areas or the 'yellow zone' are under surveillance by the police.

The yellow zone has eight close circuit television (CCTV) cameras located in different places.

"My job is to inform the officials located in the area to check on any suspicious vehicle or individual. But here only one camera is working in Taj Khema, out of the eight," said Karambeer Singh, the operator.

Singh claims squirrels cut the wires of the CCTV cameras.

The tour guides are also dissatisfied with the poor security arrangements and fear that the Taj Mahal could be the next militant target.

"The security provision here is extremely poor. The police barriers remain unguarded. The cameras fitted in the area are hardly working. This way anyone can flout the security provisions and attack the Taj Mahal," said Tahiruddin Tahir, the president of the Agra Tour Guide Association.

"It is surprising that nobody is concerned about the security, when Taj Mahal is such a sensitive area where security should be alert all the time," he added. (ANI)