Man detained with ‘lion nails’

26/05/2015
Man detained with 'lion nails'
The Times Of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Man-detained-with-lion-nails/articleshow/46697286.cms
RAJKOT: A man was detained by the forest officials of Gir West division of Junagadh Wildlife Circle, from Dhari bus depot, allegedly with two nails suspected to be of an Asiatic lion. The youth was identified as Kishor Dalit (22) from Rajpara village of Visavadar taluka of Junagadh district. 

However, the forest department officials have ruled out poaching angle in this case. 

Forest department had received information during routine monitoring exercise that someone was trying to sell nails of lion. They posed as customers and nabbed Dalit from near Dhari bus depot on Tuesday night and brought him to Visavadar forest range for questioning. 

"We recovered two nails suspected to be of a lion. The nails have been sent to a forensic laboratory in Junagadh to confirm whether the nails are of lion or fakes," R N Nala, deputy conservator of forests, Gir West division told TOI. 

Dalit told forest officials that he was engaged in diamond polishing work in the past and later he used to work as a daily wager. 

"We are questioning him as to from where he got the nails. If it turns out to be genuine ones we will arrest him and produce him before the local court and seek remand for further interrogation," Nala added. As per the 2010 lion census, there were 411 lions in Gir forests and its surroundings covering Bhavnagar, Junagadh and Amreli district.