Two women from Northeast India visiting the Taj Mahal were left shaken and disappointed after a disturbing incident of harassment, which they detailed in a now-viral Reddit post, sparking widespread outrage over tourist safety and the apathy of security personnel.
The Taj Mahal, a world-renowned symbol of love and beauty, draws thousands of visitors daily from across the globe. However, for two women from Northeast India, a recent visit to the monument turned into a humiliating ordeal. One of the women took to the social media platform Reddit to share their story, posting a photo of two men who allegedly harassed them. “We were visiting the Taj from North East and these two harassed us to no end,” she wrote, before detailing the shocking incident.
She accused the two men of secretly filming them with malicious intent throughout the Taj Mahal complex and stalking them for an extended period. The post quickly went viral, igniting anger and raising serious questions about women’s safety at India’s most iconic landmark.
A “Disgusting and Violating” Experience
According to the Reddit post, the two women, who were dressed modestly in kurtis and dupattas, had arrived early in the morning to enjoy the monument in peace. It was then they noticed two men following them and covertly recording them.
Upon confronting the men and checking their phones with the help of their boyfriends and a guide, they made a sickening discovery. The perpetrators allegedly had over 30 videos and numerous photos across three different phones, including slow-motion close-ups of their private parts. “It was absolutely disgusting and violating when we found out they had taken slow-motion videos of my back,” the woman wrote. The revelation left them feeling profoundly shaken and questioning how such an incident could occur in a supposedly high-security zone.
Confrontation, Denial, and Inaction
When the women first confronted the men, they brazenly claimed they were only filming the Taj Mahal. It was only after the intervention of the women’s companions that they agreed to delete the files. “Most of the videos and pictures were close-ups of our faces, our chests, and our backsides,” the victim stated. “We felt completely uncomfortable and violated.”
Adding to their distress was the alleged inaction of the on-site security personnel. The victim pointed out the irony that while security is quick to stop people from making dance videos, they seemed to turn a blind eye to blatant harassment. “Security guards will immediately stop you if you’re making dance videos, but they ignore this kind of harassment. That was the most disappointing part,” she wrote.
Why They Hesitated to File a Police Complaint
The women ultimately decided against filing a formal police complaint. They cited fear, exhaustion, and the advice of their guide, who suggested they “not make it a big matter” since they were not locals and were scheduled to return home the same day.
The experience left them feeling defeated. “We thought coming early and dressing modestly would keep us safe. But it’s clear that our safety can’t be ensured even when we take every precaution,” the post read.
Reddit Erupts in Anger
By sharing their story and the alleged harassers’ photos on Reddit, the women hoped to raise awareness about how easily women’s safety can be compromised, even at major tourist destinations. The post was met with a flood of angry and supportive comments.
Many users condemned the men’s behavior as shameful, while others pointed to it as a symptom of a larger societal problem. “This isn’t just an issue for women from the Northeast, it can happen to any woman,” one user commented. Another user recalled a similar incident involving a Thai tourist in 2019, highlighting that this is a recurring problem that demands immediate and effective action.
