The famous monument in Agra - Taj Mahal was briefly shut and over 1,000 tourists were asked to leave the premises on Thursday after the Uttar Pradesh police received a bomb threat. No explosive was found, ADG Agra Zone Rajeev Krishna said, adding that the threat call was a trick. The threat call early in the morning created a stir amongst the authorities. A bomb squad was rushed to the spot and a search operation began, meanwhile, the eastern and western gates of the monument were quickly closed and tourists were asked to vacate the monument.
"We have received information from the control room that a man called them up saying that a bomb is kept at the Taj Mahal which will explode soon. The security check is being done around Taj Mahal," Shiv Ram Yadav, SP (Protocol) Agra said, adding that the CISF has been cautioned.
SP Yadav also informed that the caller claimed that he was discriminated against in military recruitment. He said that the search is underway.
The Agra police identified the caller and the number has been disclosed from where the call came. The call has been tracked to Firozabad.
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"The call came on UP 112. He said there is a bomb planted at the premises of the Taj Mahal. Immediately, we pressed our teams into action. No explosive has been found yet. We are also trying to trace the caller," Agra IG A Satish Ganesh said.
"There are 99 per cent chances that this is a hoax call. But we are following the drill. According to CISF inputs, we will be able to reopen the monument for tourists in another hour. There is no need to panic," the IG added.
The tourists were allowed shortly after 11 am.