The move comes after two Japanese tourists were allegedly raped in Agra last week. Three men have been held in connection with the incident.

The special police station at the old building of Reserve Police Lines of Agra district was inaugurated by Director General of Police Vikram Singh and Director of Tourism Parthasarthi on Tuesday. The proposal was under consideration for over a month.

At present, police officers from the main police station have been posted at the new thana. But plans are afoot for posting police officers fluent in English and any other foreign language.

“To begin with, one Station Officer, four male and one female sub-inspector, two head constables and 30 male and five female constables have been posted. Apart from routine policing, investigating crimes registered by foreign tourists, the cops posted here will also be trained to communicate fluently with the tourists. They will be given training by the state tourism department and Archeological Survey of India. Besides, the tourism department has also appointed one of its official at the police station,” said Naveen Arora, SSP, Agra.

The officers will also be wearing a red and white ribbon band below their nameplates so that tourists can identify them easily, added Arora.

Principal Secretary (home) J N Chamber stated that 50 per cent of the police force, posted on the special police station, will be female.

“The police station will also be equipped with computers and internet facility to enable the foreign tourists to utilise them. Besides police, officials of the tourism department will also be posted there in order to address other problems faced by foreign tourists in Agra,” stated Chamber. A proposal to increase the strength of the tourist police force is also being sent to the government. The district police also have plans to open help centers like police chowkis at some important places.

“Five police help centres are also been planned at Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Atmadutdaullah, Sikandra and Agra Fort. These centres will increase the visibility of tourist police and also help us in reducing our reaction time to any complaint,” said Arora.