- By Imran Zafar
- Sun, 18 Feb 2024 10:57 AM (IST)
- Source:IANS
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti visited the historical town of Fatehpur Sikri in Agra on Friday where he was accompanied by an unlicensed tour guide to showcase the rich culture of the Mughal architecture. The unlicensed guide, identified as Shadab, reportedly breached security protocols and accompanied the US envoy and his family during his visit.
A video recorded by a licensed guide showed Shadab escorting the envoy and his family in the presence of police personnel accompanying the guests. The incident was a serious breach in the security of the US diplomat Eric Garcetti, who has been serving as the 26th US Ambassador to the Republic of India since March 2023.
Superintending archaeologist, Rajkumar Patel, confirmed that they got information about an unauthorised tourist guide taking VVIPs around the monument. He stated that the police are responsible for VVIP security and that action will be taken against such unauthorised guides.
"It is for the police to take action against such unauthorised guides. They are responsible for VVIP security here. This matter will be investigated in detail," Patel said. Even though the tourism police station has a list of tour guides, many unauthorised guides throng the parking lots of the monument's East and West Gate in Agra and also in Fatehpur Sikri, reported news agency IANS.
According to the rules only licensed guides are allowed to operate in the Taj complex and other ASI-protected monuments. However, many unauthorised guides, known as 'lapka' in local parlance, are commonly found around these monuments.
