A British couple was allegedly roughed up by forest department personnel in plain clothes when they visited Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh.
An official at Laxmanjhoola Police Station said today that the couple had come to visit the famous ashram on Monday.
They had an argument with the forest department personnel in plain clothes at the ashram, which falls in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve area, when they were told that the entry fee was Rs 600 which they found too high, the official said.
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The couple objected to the high entry fee and entered into an argument following which they were allegedly roughed up by the forest personnel on duty at the ashram, he said citing a complaint lodged at the police station by the girl named Elisa.
The forest department is tight-lipped on the issue.
The couple has informed the British High Commission about the incident.
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The range officer of Rajaji Tiger Reserve's Gauhri range, Rajendra Nautiyal said the couple had trespassed into forest property by jumping over its rear walls stealthily to escape paying the entry fees.
When the couple was caught by the forest guards on duty, they began fighting with them.
Laxmanjhoola police had to be called in to control the situation, he said.
Mahesh Yogi's Chaurasi Kutiya at Swargasharm in Rishikesh is famous all over the world as popular international rock band. The Beatles had visited it in the 1970s.
It draws tourists from all over the world even today.
