Gujarat: Una trader arrested in Amreli for harassing lion

RAJKOT: A garment trader was arrested and booked under Wildlife Protection Act for chasing and harassing a lion in Fachariya village of Amreli’s Jafrabad taluka on the night on March 21.
The arrested trader, Kaushik Savaliya, was denied bail and sent to judicial custody.
Savaliya is a resident of Ningara village of Khambha taluka and has a wholesale garment shop in Una town of Gir Somnath district.In his statement to the forest department, Savaliya said he spotted a lion while returning home at around 1am and slowed his car to record the video.
He claimed he did not intend to harm or harass the animal.
GL Vaghela, range forest officer of Jafrabad, said, “Chasing lions is an offence under section 9 of Wildlife Protection Act. If a wild animal comes on the road, the driver is required to stop the vehicle and allow it to pass and not record the video.” The forest department also impounded the car and mobile which was used in the offence.
The driver was chasing a lion which was seen running to save itself. The lion first tries to find a safe corner but wanders away into the street. The car followed the wild cat and focused the headlight on it.