Posted on 08/18/2006 6:13:25 AM PDT by presidio9
Police in northern India have heightened security around the Taj Mahal after receiving a letter threatening to blow up the monument, officials said Friday.
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Sandbag bunkers have been set up outside the towering entrance gates leading to the 17th century monument and soldiers belonging to an anti-terrorist squad have been posted on 24-hour duty, said Ashok Kumar, a senior government official in Uttar Pradesh state where the Taj Mahal is located.
Police were investigating a handwritten letter purportedly sent by an al-Qaida supporter, saying the terrorist group planned to carry out blasts at the Taj Mahal.
Police were skeptical about the letter, but had begun investigations, Kumar said Friday.
"Police are verifying the source of the letter," he said. "The letter could be false but we cannot afford to be complacent. We are not taking any chances and have enhanced security at the Taj."
"The letter, signed by someone calling himself Mohammed Mirza and claiming to be associated with the al-Qaida, was received at the office of the superintendent of police in Agra on Thursday," Kumar said.
"The letter said the al-Qaida had plans to carry out blasts at the Taj Mahal and around busy markets of Agra," he said.
Meanwhile, as part of the new security drill, tourists have been warned not to carry any liquids, including bottles of mineral water, to the fabled white marble structure, located in the city of Agra, 130 milesfrom the Indian capital, New Delhi.
At least 100 additional paramilitary soldiers armed with automatic weapons have been posted at strategic points on the outer periphery of the Taj Mahal complex, said a top police officer.
Police have also begun work on a dossier of residents living within 500 meters (yards) radius of the monument, said Dipesh Juneja, superintendent of police in Agra. "This will help the police spot any new entrants or visitors to the area," Juneja said over telephone.
As part of special security arrangements for the monument, the state government has asked the federal civil aviation authorities and India's air force to declare a no-fly zone over a four 2.5-mile radius around the Taj Mahal, said N. C. Bajpei, Uttar Pradesh's topmost official.
The majestic domed monument was built by the Mogul Emperor Shah Jehan between 1632 and 1654 for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It houses their graves and a mosque, as well as several other graves of lesser Mogul royalty.
Nearly 2.5 million tourists visited the Taj Mahal last year, according to official estimates.
Are you getting the idea that there's something deeply wrong with the Islamic religion?
These people are simply nuts.
Those pesky Pentacostals at it again?
Wanna bet that 14 year old who sent the letter is sitting back laughing at all the up roar he caused?
What's odd about this is that the Taj Mahal was built by the Muslim king Shahbuddin Muhammad Shah Jahan.
Why?
Because they want to destroy one of humanity's greatest artistic treasures?
Or because the Taj Mahal is one of the finest examples of Islamic art?
Yup,Islam's a religion of love.The people who are in it love to kill,love to destroy and love terrorize wherever they get a chance !!!
Exactly! That's what I was thinking too.
Either the letter is a hoax - or Al-Qaeda is dipping a little too close to the bottom of the barrel for recruits.
But it was a tribute to his wife. Next they'll threaten to paint a moustache on the Mona Lisa.
They're not nuts. They are at war against western civiliation. Regretfully, we are not at war with them. We want to appease them.
France has been overrun by muslims to the extent that the common frenchman is afraid to take a stand. The same is happening now in England.
Will it happen here?
Yeah..but which letter..there are 26 of them you know..
The only possibility that I can think of was that it was built as a tomb, and hardcore Wahabbhis believe that anything beyond a simple marker for the dead is idolatrous.
That statement, in the context of this article, makes no sense...
I believe that it was originally a magnificent Hindu temple (Tejo Mahalaja, or some such spelling) dating from centuries before, appropriated by the Muslims (in precisely the same way the Muslims took over what was for centuries the largest Christian church in the world, the Hagia Sophia or Church of the Holy Wisdom in Constantinople), and deliberately made the Taj into a grave for one of the Shah's many wives as a direct insult to the Hindus, for whom the Muslims have the utmost contempt.
I would never give the Muslims any credit for the achievements of others.
It's truly beautiful....just beautiful.
Obviously B for boom
..... I was young and a romantic and I'll never forget that, any of you remember who said it ?
http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/taylor-burtondiamond.html
Look out, that letter's got a gun!
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