'Monkey Police' armed with Catapults to Protect US President Trump during Taj Mahal Visit

Agra, February 23, 2020:

Police armed with catapults have been assigned to protect US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania from a monkey menace during his visit to the Taj Mahal in India.

According to media reports, at least 500-700 monkeys live in the Taj Mahal's grounds and have been known to harass tourists visiting the 17th century mausoleum built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

Officials stepped up security after two French tourists were attacked by the animals as they took selfies in May 2018. And later that year, a 12-day-old baby was killed by a monkey after being snatched from his home in the city.

To ensure that the President's visit goes off without a hitch, local police have been armed with handheld catapults to scare away the marauding macaques.

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One resident told India Today that the terror of the monkeys is so pervasive that women and children are scared of going up on the roof of their houses, which have almost been taken over by monkeys.

Meanwhile, the Government is undertaking beautification drives in the cities to be visited by Trump and his entourage that will include his wife, daughter Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared. In Ahmedabad and Delhi, walls are being constructed to "hide" slums constructed on the roadside. Moreover, fresh water is being poured into the Yamuna river to reduce the stench that has been caused by the accumulation of garbage.

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