The forest department has arrested two men from Ahmedabad who were seen harassing a lion in a viral video.
In the video, a person in a car turns on the headlights and honks at a lion on the road. Another individual exits the car, approaches the lion, shoots the video, and takes pictures with it while disrupting the natural behavior of the animal.
The arrested individuals, Rohit Heerlal Rajput and Tejas Rajendra Singh Parmar, had come to Khambha’s Tulsishyam range under Dhari Gir East Division to observe lions. Their actions, captured in the viral video, prompted the forest department to take action. The forest department team from Khambha’s Tulsi Shyam Range investigated the matter, registered a case under Section No. 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and arrested the individuals. The accused were presented before the court, and remand was requested.
The Khambha Range Forest Department, led by RFO Jyoti Waja and AFO Rajal Pathak, successfully apprehended the accused. Interrogations are ongoing to determine the extent of their activities, including whether there are additional videos or individuals involved.