Farmer held with 14 lion claws in Gujarat's Amreli

A farmer has been apprehended with 14 claws which he had removed earlier in February from a dead lion in the Tulshishyam Range of Gujarat's Gir Forest, senior official said Monday.

The farmer, identified as 45-year-old Vashram Dhapa of Pachapachiya village in Khambha taluka from Amreli, was nabbed Sunday from his farm in nearby Sonariya based on a tip-off, DT Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Wildlife Circle said.

"In February, a lion, aged between five to nine years, was found dead in the Tulsishyam range Gir East division by forest staff. Fourteen of its claws were missing. We had then formed a special team to nab the person responsible," Vasavada said.

"We zeroed in on Dhapa who has confessed that he had removed the claws and hid them near his farm in Sonariya. We have recovered all 14 claws," he informed.

He added that, as of now, it had not been established whether Dhapa killed the lion for its claws but the angle was being pursued.

"Claws are worn by some people as pendents. We are probing if Dhapa had a connection to gangs dealing in such items," he said.