Agra: An NRI working as an associate professor at University of Queensland Business School, Australia, in an online complaint to UP tourism department alleged ill-treatment by the local police and CISF personnel during his visit to the Taj Mahal earlier this month. Sunil Venaik said he was harassed by touts at the Taj’s ticket window even as the local police looked the other way.In another such complaint by a British woman tourist, PMO has sought an explanation from the tourism department. British tourist Jane Grant had visited the Taj last year, and after being allegedly ridiculed by CISF personnel for carrying “a lot of baggage” inside the monument, she shot a letter to PMO.Venaik, who had come with his family to visit the Taj Mahal on February 6, claimed that the entire experience of visiting the world famous monument was unpleasant “due to poor management of the entry system by CISF and UP police.” Narrating his experience, Venaik said visitors are treated as problem and not as valued guests at the Taj. He alleged harassment right from buying entry passes from the ticket window to entering the monument. According to him, numerous outsiders and agents crowded around the ticket counters and offered him entry without waiting in queue, even as people entered and exited the ticket queue at random. The police personnel did not seem to care. They seemed disinterested in tackling the disorder, he said in his complaint.Venaik also alleged that it took him more than an hour to enter the monument premises as CISF and local police personnel colluded to allow people to enter the monument without having to stand in queue. When he tried to reason with the CISF and police, they passed the buck on each other. He urged senior officials to look into the matter as chaos and confusion at the monument leave a bad impression on the minds of the visitors.In the second case, Grant had visited the Taj on July 28 last year. As she was alone, she was carrying a bag with her. At the frisking point inside the monument, her entire personal belongings were taken out and put on display while the women security personnel made fun of her. She was asked some very personal questions. She was asked to put the bag outside any shop and then enter the monument. She said the shopkeepers agreed to keep her bag only if she made some purchases.Deputy director of tourism (Agra) Dinesh Kumar said letters had been written to the police and the CISF to give explanations in the two matters.A senior CISF officer defended the action of its personnel on duty and said tourists should also know about the objects that are allowed inside the monument. It is a normal procedure to take out things and check the excess baggage, he said adding the force can't compromise on security procedure. As far as long queues are concerned, the problem could only be resolved after facilitation centres are built at entry points, he said. "We deal with huge crowds every day," he added.

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