Gujarat: Seven jailed for harassing lioness in Gir forest
A court in Gir, Somnath district of Gujarat convicted seven people, including three tourists from Ahmedabad, and awarded different jail terms for harassing a lioness in Gir forest in 2018. In an order issued on Monday, Judicial Magistrate First Class at Gir Gadhada, Sunik Kumar Dave, awarded three years imprisonment to six of the accused, while one was sentenced to one year in jail.
Accused found guilty under various sections of Wildlife (Protection) Act
The court awarded three years sentence to six of the accused, Ilyas Hoth, Abbas Baloch, Altaf Baloch (from Gir Gadhada taluka), and three tourists Ravi Patadiya, Divyang Gajjar, and Rathinbhai Patel. They were pronounced guilty under the Wildlife (Protection) Act Sections 2 (16)(B) (capturing, trapping, or baiting any wild animal), 9 (hunting), 27 (restriction on an entry in a sanctuary), and other provisions.
All accused to pay Rs. 10,000 as fine
Besides, accused Magilal Meena was sentenced to one-year imprisonment after being convicted under Section 27 of the Act. The magistrate also imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on each of the accused and directed that Rs. 35,000 from the amount collected to be deposited to the lion welfare fund. The court acquitted another accused, Hasambhai Koreja, for want of evidence against him.
What passed down in 2018?
Eight people were arrested in May 2018 after a video clip surfaced on social media in which they were seen harassing a lioness by luring it with a chicken as bait. The lioness was seen making desperate attempts to grab the chicken and later got it, but not before the accused had their share of fun teasing her.
