Agra cracks down on touts after violent attack on Swiss tourists
Following a violent attack on a Swiss couple in Agra last week, local police have rounded up and detained more than 50 touts around the city’s famous historic sites.
Dozens were charged with harassment and disturbing public peace after a crackdown by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Authorities promised to weed out ‘anti-social elements’ after the attack left two tourists hospitalised.
A Swiss couple were assaulted at Fatehpur Sikri and five youths are facing charges.
Senior police officer Amit Pathak said information centres will be set up at Agra’s main monuments along with a strong tourism police presence.
"The so-called illegal guides or agents and canvassers, who locally are called ‘lapkas’, have created a nightmarish ambience for the tourists," said Shravan Kumar Singh of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.
"In the process, the entire tourism industry gets a bad name. Tourists do not want to return to Agra. At Fatehpur Sikri you cannot walk alone without being swarmed."
Police had been under fire for not dealing with the growing problem of harassment of tourists.
Touts commonly target tourists at Agra’s most popular sites of Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and Taj Mahal.
Agra attracts nearly 10 million Indian and foreign tourists a year.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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