By IANS
Shimla : Turbaned policemen on horseback are patrolling Shimla's the Mall – to add a touch of traditional style and medieval glamour.
At least four uniformed men of the Himachal Pradesh Police – sitting astride majestic horses – have been riding among the milling pedestrian crowds since the weekend.
The decision to include the riders was taken by state police chief Ashwani Kumar to reduce the number of policemen on foot who had the job of urging pedestrians to keep to the left and keep an eye on smokers and spitters too.
Police sources said the cavalry was expected to continue with the patrolling every evening at Shimla's bustling Mall – a favourite haunt for holidaymakers and locals.
However, many residents and tourists are not happy at the galloping turn of events as they complain about the smell of dung that hangs in the air.
The Mall is a traffic-prohibited area since the British era when Shimla served as the summer capital.