Rajkot: A forest department employee was injured after he was allegedly attacked, abused and threatened with death by two men during a lion rescue operation in Amreli district. The accused insisted on being allowed to see the rescued lions, police said.A complaint was registered at Chalala police station against Asim Shaap alias Gulab Laliya, an unidentified man accompanying him, and Toshif Laliya for assaulting a public servant, intimidation and breach of peace under BNS. The complaint was filed by 42-year-old forester Shivraj Dhadhal.According to the complaint, two lionesses had fallen into a farm well near Dahida village on Sept 29 and were rescued before being taken to the Ambardi Rescue Centre for treatment. On Oct 3, after receiving medical care, the lionesses were being transported in cages in a forest department vehicle to be released back into their habitat. Forest staff were also searching for their cubs.While the operation was underway, Dhadhal and other forest personnel were near Tulsi Hotel on Gopalgram Road when Asim alias Gulab Laliya and another man arrived in an SUV. The two allegedly demanded that the lions be shown to them from inside the forest vehicle.Dhadhal refused, saying the rescue operation was still underway and the animals could not be shown. He also allegedly asked the men to leave.According to the complaint, the two men later returned and reached the Gurukul area, where the forest staff were stationed. They again demanded to see the lions and allegedly pressured Dhadhal to speak to Toshif Laliya over phone.When the forester again refused, the two men allegedly abused him and threatened to “deal with” him and kill him. Toshif, who was reportedly on speakerphone, also allegedly threatened the forester and told him to leave the area.The complaint states that when Dhadhal said he would inform police, the two men left in the SUV. As forest staff attempted to stop them, the SUV was allegedly reversed, hitting Dhadhal and causing a injury to his left hand. The accused then fled.Dhadhal was taken to Chalala Civil Hospital for treatment. He later informed senior forest officials about the incident and lodged the complaint.
