Foreigners molested in Taj city by govt staff

Barely a month after the national outcry over a Swiss diplomat’s rape in Delhi, three South Korean tourists were reportedly molested ...

Barely a month after the national outcry over a Swiss diplomat’s rape in Delhi, three South Korean tourists were reportedly molested by forest department employees yesterday near the Taj Mahal.

After Suk Yung, Li and Insuk Cho filed a formal complaint with the South Korean Embassy in Delhi, police in a delayed reaction registered a criminal case today.

The women, who are staying in the Tajganj area with a group of Korean tourists, say they were heading for the Taj Nature Walk near the monument around 5 pm on Monday when they were accosted by two men. The women had been told by their hotel owner that one could get a lovely view of the Taj from the hillocks inside the forest.

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The men said they worked for the Forest Department, one as a sweeper and the other as a watchman, and offered to guide the three to the top of the nearest hill for a view.

However, say the women, no sooner had they passed the main gate and entered the forest that the men attacked them. The three fought back and managed to flee.

They say they first approached the Forest Department and then the local Tajganj Police Station, but were turned away by both. Finally, the women contacted their tour leader, who called up the South Korean Embassy in Delhi. It was after the embassy sent a fax that the Agra police finally took action. SSP Ashutosh Pandey said a case had been filed against Raju (the sweeper) and Ram Murti (the watchman).

When contacted by Express, Forest Department officials, however, continued to claim ignorance about the incident.