Security beefed up at Taj Mahal

AGRA: Security has been tightened near the Taj Mahal in the wake of the bombings in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

The police stepped up patrolling on the streets around the 17th century marble monument, India's biggest tourist draw.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) protects the Taj Mahal. Armed personnel guard the entire complex. Visitors pass through metal detectors.

Security measures were intensified Saturday night at the Agra Cantonment railway station.

Railway authorities have warned people to be alert against unclaimed luggage. Passengers alighting from trains were searched randomly.

An unclaimed suitcase found in a market complex at Nai ki Mandi here Saturday evening created a scare. The police cordoned off the area and asked shopkeepers to pull down the shutters before the bomb disposal squad found that the suitcase only contained some clothes.

Agra's cloth merchants are particularly worried over the Ahmedabad blasts. They fear their supplies could be affected.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Raghuvir Lal, police personnel have been asked to keep an eye on suspicious characters and warn the public not to touch unclaimed objects.

A string of bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad Friday and Saturday left at least 40 people dead and more than 100 injured in the two cities.