17 foreign tourists booked for 'bathing in sea' during lockdown in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 15 () Seventeen foreigntourists have been booked for allegedly bathing in the seaoff the famous Kovalam Beach here in violation of COVID-19lockdown regulations, police said on Wednesday.

Cases have also been registered against the owners andmanagers of five hotels where thetourists are staying sinceMarch 22 due to the lockdown, they said.

The tourists who hailed from various countries, includingUK, Canada and France, had taken bath in the sea on Tuesdaydespite orders banning such activities. Cases have been registered against themunder the KeralaEpidemic Act and Indian Penal Code IPC section 188(Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) andsect 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection ofdisease). The Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) heresaid it was seized of the matter. UDVS VS