Confirmed: Claws recovered from MP tribals belong to Asiatic lion

11-04-2007

Ahmedabad Newsline- Sibte Husain Bukhari

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=231343

 

Junagadh, April 11: The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has confirmed that nails and claws recovered from a gang of Madhya Pradesh tribals who were arrested from Una on April 7 belong to a lion. However, it would become clear whether these claws belong to the lions poached last month in Gir forest or not once the results of DNA tests are out.

 

In addition to this, Junagadh police have also recovered an iron chain-trap, which is suspected to have been used to trap the lions. The trap was unearthed from an open ground near Gayatri Temple located on Una-Junagadh road on the outskirts of Una, the place from where the second group of tribals were arrested.

 

Besides, seven more male members of the tribal gang were arrested from Dhokadava village on Tuesday, whose interrogation is going on at Gir-Gadhada police station. These seven men were arrested when they were trying to hide under a river bridge. However; though the police have been grilling these men for nearly a week they have not divulged any details that would help in the investigation. With this arrest, total 24 persons including 15 women and 9 men have been booked