A group of students from Manipur were allegedly restricted to enter the Taj Mahal premises by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel on January 8 and were asked to present the proof of their nationality. The students lodged a detailed complaint to the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) after which ASI has ordered probe over the entire episode.

As per the complaint filed by the students from the Central Agricultural University in Imphal, they visited Taj Mahal as a part of an all India Educational Tour.

They arrived at the gate at 3:30 pm on January 8 but they were allegedly stopped at the entry gate with CISF asserting that they resembled foreigners and were trying to pass off as Indians with cheaper tickets.

The ticket cost at Taj Mahal is Rs 1000 for the foreigners (barring those from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries) while it’s just Rs 40 for the Indians.

Even after showing their nationality proofs and letter which showed that they were on an educational tour, the students were not allowed by the CISF staff present at the gate. This led to an argument between the security staff and a professor accompanying the group.

Further, they were asked to show their Aadhar cards adding that only those would be allowed who have Aadhar with them. Later, the students were allowed to enter after the tourism police intervened.

“As alleged by the students, the CISF personnel misbehaved with them and asked to show their nationality proof. They the tourism police was approached, who reached the spot and intervened to allow the students to enter,” said RP Pandey, SHO of the Tourism police station.

The entry gate CCTV camera footages have also been demanded by the security staff to verify the allegations.