Rally driver, four others booked for trespass

Nagarahole Tiger Reserve authorities have booked Indian rally driver Chetan Shivram on charges of trespassing into the reserve forest area along with four others, including a woman.

Forest department officials have also initiated action against their staff for letting the five enter the forest through Udbur gate around 7pm Thursday. The gate near Balle is closed to traffic at 6pm.

Harshakumar Chikkanaragund, director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, said DB Kuppe rfo Madhu registered a case against the five - Chetan Shivram, Vamcy Merla, Vijay Rao, Lokesh Gowda and the woman. They have been accused of trespassing under section 27 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Their car will also be seized. tnn