Truck Driver Allegedly Runs Over Lioness In Amreli, Arrested

Amreli: Just weeks ahead of the 16th Asiatic Lion Population Census, a truck driver allegedly ran over a lioness in Gujarat’s Amreli district on April 24. A forest official confirmed that the accused driver has been arrested.

The accused, Rajesh Padariya, was driving his truck at speed when he ran over the lioness during the early hours of April 24, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Viralsinh Chavda stated. The accident took place on the Amreli-Savarkundla highway near Devaliya village. After the collision, Padariya fled from the scene without informing authorities or arranging any medical help for the injured animal.

Following the incident, three teams were formed to trace the accused. Forest officials scanned the surrounding areas and examined CCTV footage from petrol pumps and other locations around the accident site. The truck involved in the accident was identified through this footage, and Rajesh Padariya was arrested based on the collected evidence and intelligence inputs.

The driver was booked under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. His bail application was rejected, and he was subsequently sent to jail. The incident has occurred at a sensitive time, as preparations for the 16th Asiatic Lion Population Census are underway. Authorities continue to investigate the case based on CCTV evidence and inputs gathered from the area.