Chikkamagaluru: The forest department seized seven high-end sport utility vehicles (SUVs) belonging to tourists from Bengaluru for illegally entering forest land and indulging in off-roading in Sakleshpur range on Saturday.According to Sakleshpur range forest officer Hemanth Kumar, a total of 22 people, including women and a child, were travelling in seven vehicles inside the forest area.The passengers and the jeeps in which they were travelling were from Bengaluru. The tourists had booked an accommodation in rural Sakleshpur and took their vehicles inside the forest area. The drivers were involved in off-roading activity, which harms the forest ecosystem and wildlife.The officials found the tourists entering the reserve forest area in Hodachalli village, coming under Kabbinagundi range of Kabbinale section. Acting on the information, forest officials conducted a raid, seized all seven vehicles and shifted them to the range forest office. A forest offence case has been registered.The officer also said that a notice will be issued to the owner of the accommodation facility.Officials have warned that off-roading and camping inside forest areas are strictly prohibited. The department officials have booked 40 such cases in the last two years. Such violations will not be tolerated under any circumstances, said the officer. The operation was carried out by RFO Hemanth Kumar and his team.
