Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday issued an advisory restricting tourist movement towards Mulbangil–Batoo route which connects some remote areas of north Kashmir’s Baramulla around Gulmarg and lacks emergency response facilities.Police has attributed the lack of adequate visitor support and emergency response facilities as the reason. (File)Police officials said that they have witnessed a recent increase in the movement of tourists towards the interior areas of Mulbangil and Batoo along the Hajibal–Babareshi axis, facilitated in certain cases by tourism service providers, guides and transport operators.“Members of the public are advised that the Qazipora–Ziran–Batoo–Mulbangil–Hajibal route does not form part of the notified and established tourist circuit and traverses remote areas lacking adequate visitor support and emergency response facilities,” a police spokesperson said.In the interest of public safety and to prevent tourists from venturing into areas not designated for tourism activities, Police has decided to regulate and prohibit tourist movement towards the aforesaid route with immediate effect and until further notice.“All hotel owners, guest house operators, homestay owners, travel agencies, tour operators, taxi operators, tourist guides, pony operators and other stakeholders are advised not to facilitate, advertise, organise or encourage tourist visits towards the restricted area,” the spokesperson said.The officials said that police teams will be deployed at appropriate locations to enforce the restrictions.“Any individual, guide, operator, agency or establishment found violating these directions, facilitating unauthorised movement, or otherwise acting in a manner that endangers the safety of tourists shall attract strict legal action under the relevant provisions of law,” the spokesperson said.Police requested tourists to cooperate with the authorities and confine their visits to approved and established tourist destinations in the Tangmarg–Gulmarg area.