103 tourists taken into custody for trekking sans permission in Bidiruthala

Mudigere (Chikkamagaluru district): As many as 103 tourists, who had taken up trekking in Bidiruthala without permission, were taken into custody by the police. 

Bidiruthala is a restricted forest. Acting on a tip off that illegal trekking is carried out in forest area of Charmadi Ghat, Banakal PSI Renuka and Balur PSI Dilip Kumar conducted a raid. The police seized two tourist bus and two pick-up vehicles for entering reserve forest without permission.  All the tourists were employees of a firm in Bengaluru. They were taken inside the forest by a local individual. The investigation is in progress. Entering a prohibited area without permission from the Forest Department is a serious offense under the Forest Act, said police.