Five langurs deployed to Trump's security team to tackle monkey menace during his visit to India's Taj Mahal
President Donald Trump became the seventh US president to set foot in India on Monday, February 24, along with his wife Melania, daughter and senior advisor Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
They were greeted at Ahmedabad airport by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The president and his family is on a two-day visit to India and will spend a few hours in the city in Modi’s home state Gujarat before flying to Agra where the world-famous Taj Mahal is located.
After a few hours' stay in the city in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, the guests will head towards New Delhi.
While the Indian government and authorities in the state where Trumps are visiting left no stone unturned, there was still a concern over the monkey menace in Agra.
Despite the provision of heavy security arrangements for the Trumps, security agencies were worried about the roaming monkeys in Agra that often turn aggressive and attack people.
While the guards have been using local slingshots to scare away the monkeys at other times, it is feared that it might not be enough a deterrent if the animals break through the president's security and create panic.
To tackle the problem, the security agencies have reportedly deployed langurs (big-sized, long-tailed monkeys) on the route of the Trumps' convoy.
A few years ago, two French tourists were injured by the monkeys when they were busy taking selfies. According to experts, the animals are turning more aggressive since their natural habitats continue to be under threat.
Trump’s entourage will be welcomed in Uttar Pradesh by the state's chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, and they will be paying a visit to the famous mausoleum around the evening on Monday.
According to sources, while the internal security of Trump and his family is being managed by the American Secret Services, 10 companies of paramilitary forces besides as many companies of PAC and NSG commandos have been deployed for external security.
Modi, who visited the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston last September, has reciprocated with a 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad which has also made headlines ahead of the president's visit for controversial reasons.
The Indian authorities built walls to hide the slums near the Motera Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium that Trump was set to inaugurate.
Trump became the second American president after Barack Obama to visit India during the prime ministership of Modi. Obama and former first lady Michelle visited India as chief guests for the Republic Day celebrations in January 2015.