Itanagar, : Tawang Police in Arunachal Pradesh have warned tourists and locals against bathing, swimming or dumping waste in the sacred Gonkhar La Lake, saying violations will attract immediate fines and legal action.
Police have strictly prohibited swimming, bathing and washing in the lake. The warning follows an incident on November 7, when a tourist allegedly entered the lake for bathing despite being aware of the restrictions, hurting the religious sentiments of the local community. The incident came to light after the tourist, identified as Shihbul Hasan, submitted a handwritten apology to the officer-in-charge of Jang police station on November 7, admitting that he had bathed in the lake despite knowing that it was prohibited.
In an advisory, police said the high-altitude lake holds immense religious and ecological significance and should not be treated merely as a tourist destination.
