Taj Mahal Security Breached, Chinese Tourist Caught With Drone Inside Monument

Agra, October 3: Despite tight security at the Taj Mahal, a Chinese tourist managed to take a drone inside the heritage monument on Wednesday. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel caught the Chinese tourist when he was about to fly the drone near the Royal Gate of Taj Mahal. He was later handed over to the tourism police.

The Chinese tourist, identified as Gui Guanxiong from Beijing, however, claimed innocence, saying he didn't know that flying drone was prohibited near the Taj Mahal. Speaking about the security breach, Braj Bhushan, CISF commandant at Taj Mahal, said his staff missed the drone because it looked like a camera. Taj Mahal & Other Monuments’ Entry Fee Hiked for Domestic, Foreign Visitors: Check the New Rates.

“The lapse occurred because the packed drone looked like a camera and was missed. But the tourist was not allowed to fly it and was stopped once he took it out after reaching the Royal Gate,” Bhushan told a leading daily. The CISF commandant also said the tourist was unaware of the restrictions about drones near the Taj Mahal.

"He expressed ignorance about the restriction on flying drones in no flying zone near the Taj Mahal. The visitor gave a written apology before leaving,” DK Dwiwedi, the officer in charge of tourism police station who interrogated Giu, was quoted as saying. Flying drone has been banned in the sensitive area around Taj Mahal since February 2017. Taj Mahal in Bhopal Built by Sultan Shah Jahan to Be Converted Into Heritage Hotel, Confirms MP’s Tourism Department.

In August this year, an Israeli tourist staying at a hotel south of the monument flew a drone. His drone was seized, and he was released after a written apology.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2018 10:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).