Arunachal: Tawang Police warns tourists against bathing, polluting sacred Gonkhar La Lake

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.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.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.Visitors have been asked to respect local beliefs and ensure that their activities do not affect the lake's sanctity or environment.Police have strictly prohibited swimming, bathing and washing in the lake.Dumping garbage, plastic, religious offerings, soap and chemicals in or around the waterbody has also been banned.The incident came to light after the tourist, identified as Shihbul Hasan, submitted a handwritten apolo