1. Special Rs 350-Crore Package for Conservation of Gir Lions: Minister
Gujarat Forests and Tribal Welfare Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava on Sunday, 15 July, said that the state government has prepared a special Rs 350-crore package for the conservation and protection of lions in Gir.
He said the government envisages to set up a hospital for lions, centres for treatment and research and host of other services under the package.
“The state government has prepared a Rs 350-crore special package for conservation and protection of lions,” the minister said in a statement after visiting the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in neighbouring Narmada district Saturday, 13 July.
The minister said he visited the site for reviewing and monitoring works on 35 upcoming projects. He stated that among other things, the government proposes to monitor lions through drones and engage a special ambulance van for big cats.
“Four ambulance vans equipped with the latest technology have been purchased for the treatments of lions.The collars for the big cats are being purchased from Germany,” the minister said.
(Source: Economic Times)
2. Jailer Recovers Mobile Phone from Birju Kishore Salla's Cell
On Saturday, 13 July, the Ranip police lodged a complaint against a Sabarmati prisoner, Birju Kishore Salla, after jail officials recovered a phone from his cell.
Salla, a Mumbai businessman, is facing life imprisonment in the Sabarmati Central Jail of Ahmedabad after being found guilty of raising a security threat aboard the Jet Airways Mumbai-Delhi flight in 2017.
While on a routine check, officials recovered an Android phone hidden under Salla's bed. The phone was in working condition but was without a sim card.
Jailer Jitendra Sinh lodged a complaint and the further investigation is being conducted by Special Operation Group (SOG) crime. Cops suspect that Salla got the phone first and was waiting for sim cards when officials found it.
(Source: DNA)
3. Dalit Murder: Urmila Had Written to Cops Seeking Protection
It has been disclosed that the wife of the Dalit man who was hacked to death by his in-laws had written twice to the police, seeking protection way back in April.
Urmila, wife of Haresh Solanki, had written to the police inspector of Mandal police station as well as the Superintendent of Police Kutch, seeking protection for her husband and in-laws. In a letter written on 17 April, Urmilla had clearly stated that she had married Solanki as per her own wish without any coercion and that they were married as per Hindu rites.
She also went on to inform the cops that her family had been threatening her and her in-laws personally as well as on phone. She also recounted that her family had threatened to get them killed by an accident and that they were associated with antisocial elements and were capable of doing it.
(Source: DNA)
4. NHRC Issues Notice to Gujarat Govt Over Lion Attack Death at Devaliya Safari Park
Almost seven months after one person was killed and two were injured in a lion attack at Devaliya Safari Park near Gir forest in Junagadh district, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the state government urging it to take action within eight weeks.
On 29 November 2018, two lions attacked Rajnish Keshwala and Dinesh Kacha, labourers inside the safari park, when they were leading the lions to their cage as per regular routine. Keshwala was dragged into the forest and attacked fiercely by the lions. He succumbed to injuries. Dinesh tried to save him and was attacked too, but he managed to escape. Kacha immediately informed the officials of the forest department.
After receiving the information, over 50 staffers began a search for Keshwala. After nearly two hours, Keshawala’s body was found deep inside the forest. While recovering Keshwala’s body, another labourer, Meraman Bharda, was also attacked.
(Source: Indian Express)
5. Rajkot Incident: No Breakthrough in Deaths of Asi, Constable
Investigators have not achieved any breakthrough in the deaths of a woman Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and a constable of the University police station in the city, police officers said on Sunday, 14 July.
“There is no breakthrough in the investigation so far. However, we are waiting for reports from forensic experts, which are expected come in by tomorrow evening. We shall be able to get some idea about the incident once we get these reports,” Manoharsinh Jadeja, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Zone-II told The Indian Express on Sunday.
ASI Khusbhu Kanabar and constable Ravirajsinh Jadeja were found dead in an apartment in Pandit Deendayal Nagar on Ring Road-II near Kalavad Road on Thursday, 11 July. They were found in pools of blood with their heads sustaining bullet wounds, and Kanabar’s service revolver was recovered from the apartment.
(Source: Indian Express)
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