Be extra careful: ASI to security

New Delhi: Security personnel guarding over 3,600 centrally-protected monuments and heritage sites in the country have been asked to be extra vigilant and “on their toes” by Archaeological Survey of India, in the wake of Pathankot terror strike.

 

“We have issued directions to all our field officers across the country to make sure the security staff are on their toes all the time and also extra vigilant, as of now,” Delhi-headquartered ASI’s additional director general Shharat Sharma said.

 

ASI, a heritage body under the ministry of culture has some of the country’s oldest archaeological sites under its protection wing. 

 

They include ruins of Sarnath in UP, Nalanda and Vikrmashila universities in Bihar, Hampi in Karnataka, Mughal-era architectural wonders like Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, which attract millions of tourists every year.

 

“We have a multi-layered security arrangements at various monuments, which include our own security guards, and also home guards,” he said.