Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials from the Delhi Circle office in the Red Fort on Tuesday held a dharna to protest what they claim is high-handedness of the CISF personnel posted to guard the historic monument.

The protestors claimed the security personnel have been “harassing” ASI officials and barring their entry in Red Fort despite possessing valid and authorised entry and car passes. ASI officials said this has put an obstacle not only to conservation work inside the Red Fort premises but is also hampering regular office work.

The CISF, however, denied there was any harassment and called it routine security checks.

“We had received several complaints previously and things came to a boil today when a senior ASI official, who had come to attend a meeting, was stopped,” K K Mohammad, ASI Delhi circle’s superintending archaeologist, said. “Security checks are routine and we have no problems with that. But some security persons regularly harass our workers and officials, even female officials.

“Even visitors who come for meetings and contracts have been barred from entering the Fort premises. This has hampered our work for long now.”

Sources in ASI said the issue also relates to CISF’s demand to be given a part of the Salimgarh Fort as office premises. They also claimed that some corrupt CISF guards demand bribe to let vehicles be parked around the area. “Some guards get a cut from shops near Jama Masjid for diverting car parking there,” an ASI official who works at the Red Fort said.

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