<p>Following fire incidents atop Chamundi Hill, five unidentified persons were taken into custody and handed over to the police on Sunday evening.<br /><br />Tourists travelling in a bus had tipped off Forest department officials atop the Hill, that a group of five persons were probably trying to set fire. <br /><br />Officials quickly took the five into custody, along with two motorbikes and handed them over to K R Police Station. The group was found smoking atop the Hill. They were eventually released by the police.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, V Karikalan, Deputy Conservator of Forests, said, even though it was not confirmed if the group had stoked fires atop the Hill, they were taken into custody as a precautionary measure. “The fire might have been unintentional, as a cigarette butt or a lit matchstick is enough to start a fire. That is why, the five persons were taken into custody,” he said.<br /><br />Two fire incidents<br /><br />With two fire incidents, gutting close to 200 acres of forest atop Chamundi Hill within a span of one month, Karikalan said, two separate FIRs have been filed regarding the incidents.<br /><br />While the first fire, which gutted about 150 acres of forest, reported in the last week of February, was a deliberate act, officials said, the second incident, reported on Friday, was most likely to be accidental.<br /><br />Following the fire on Friday, he said, about 40-50 acres of forest, consisting of dry grass was gutted. No large trees were damaged in the fire, he said. <br /><br />He added that the extent of damage was more at Adichunchanagiri mutt premises, where the fire had probably originated, before spreading to the Hill.<br /><br />Patrolling intensified<br /></p>.<p>Police personnel, who have intensified patrolling atop Chamundi Hill following forest fire incidents, have levied a fine on 25 persons, who were found smoking atop the Hill.<br />Unintentional acts, such as discarding cigarette butts atop Hill, is suspected to have stoked the recent fire reported last week.</p>.<p>Police officials said, the persons were fined as per COTPA regulations. K R Police station has deputed 20 personnel for patrolling atop the Hill, along with the help of three vehicles. <br /><br />Patrolling is being taken up from morning to 12 midnight, forest officials said.</p>
<p>Following fire incidents atop Chamundi Hill, five unidentified persons were taken into custody and handed over to the police on Sunday evening.<br /><br />Tourists travelling in a bus had tipped off Forest department officials atop the Hill, that a group of five persons were probably trying to set fire. <br /><br />Officials quickly took the five into custody, along with two motorbikes and handed them over to K R Police Station. The group was found smoking atop the Hill. They were eventually released by the police.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, V Karikalan, Deputy Conservator of Forests, said, even though it was not confirmed if the group had stoked fires atop the Hill, they were taken into custody as a precautionary measure. “The fire might have been unintentional, as a cigarette butt or a lit matchstick is enough to start a fire. That is why, the five persons were taken into custody,” he said.<br /><br />Two fire incidents<br /><br />With two fire incidents, gutting close to 200 acres of forest atop Chamundi Hill within a span of one month, Karikalan said, two separate FIRs have been filed regarding the incidents.<br /><br />While the first fire, which gutted about 150 acres of forest, reported in the last week of February, was a deliberate act, officials said, the second incident, reported on Friday, was most likely to be accidental.<br /><br />Following the fire on Friday, he said, about 40-50 acres of forest, consisting of dry grass was gutted. No large trees were damaged in the fire, he said. <br /><br />He added that the extent of damage was more at Adichunchanagiri mutt premises, where the fire had probably originated, before spreading to the Hill.<br /><br />Patrolling intensified<br /></p>.<p>Police personnel, who have intensified patrolling atop Chamundi Hill following forest fire incidents, have levied a fine on 25 persons, who were found smoking atop the Hill.<br />Unintentional acts, such as discarding cigarette butts atop Hill, is suspected to have stoked the recent fire reported last week.</p>.<p>Police officials said, the persons were fined as per COTPA regulations. K R Police station has deputed 20 personnel for patrolling atop the Hill, along with the help of three vehicles. <br /><br />Patrolling is being taken up from morning to 12 midnight, forest officials said.</p>
