New Delhi, June 14: Cupid's arrows will now have to pierce through the "wall" of private security guards at lovers' favourite monuments here. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has posted private security personnel at the Safdarjung Tomb and the Old Fort to ensure that lovelorn couples do not display their affection in public.
The plan to "discipline" couples was hatched two years ago when the ASI specially posted some staffers at these places, but the move had backfired. "Our own staff used to take money from couples to allow them to cuddle in these public places," said an ASI officer.

So behind almost every bush, couples continued to say sweet nothings to each other. Annoyed, the ASI put up notices, asking people to remain "decent". When that didn't work, police help was sought. But that also didn't make any difference. "The policemen here used to threaten to take us to police stations and then call up our homes. To avoid that, couples often ended up paying as much as Rs 1,000," said Sunil Rohtagi, a Malviya Nagar resident who comes to Safdarjung Tomb often.
"A fortnight ago, we posted 14 private guards at the Old Fort and the Safdarjung Tomb," said ASI (Delhi) superintending archaeologist A K Sinha. The private guards, he said, know their security agency will fire them immediately if they also start extracting money from couples.
Agreed a guard on duty. "There are too many eyes watching us. The ASI staffers, who were accused of extorting money, will be too eager to pin us down," he said. But whether they succeed or not remains to be seen. Monuments here have always been a favourite haunt of those in love. And among them, Safdarjung Tomb, Old Fort and monuments in Lodhi Garden are the biggest couple-pullers.



These places offer unmatched "economical enjoyment" to couples. "Going to a movie hall costs over Rs 300 for two people and even then, we can stay there only for a maximum of three hours. But at the Old Fort and the Safdarjung Tomb, we just have to spend Rs 10 and can stay there the entire day. Then there are guards also who ensure that unruly elements do not trouble us," said Rohit and Neelu Mathur, who live in a cramped Sarojini Nagar flat with five other family members.