Gujarat : Lioness Attacks Five Individuals in Separate incidents  in Amreli

AMRELI: Panic has gripped Arjansukh village in Amreli district after an agitated lioness attacked five people in a series of incidents since Thursday night, including two youths travelling on a motorcycle and two farmers working in their fields. A Forest Department guard was also injured when the team began efforts to capture the animal.

The first attack took place around midnight on October 1, when Mehul Manubhai Vaja and Bhagirath Gabharubhai Basiya of Tori village were returning by motorcycle after attending a function in Arjansukh. The lioness suddenly charged at them between the village and Arjansukh junction, causing the motorcycle to fall. One suffered an arm injury, while the other sustained injuries to his leg. Both were rushed to hospital through the 108 emergency service.

The lioness later entered farmland and attacked two more people. Haribhai Shambhubhai Vasoya and Atulbhai Pokal were injured in separate incidents, triggering further panic among farmers.

Atulbhai recalled the attack, saying, “I was working in my farm when the lioness suddenly came out of the cotton crop and charged at me. I later learnt that I was the fourth victim of the same lioness.”

The situation became more tense when Forest Department guard Aniruddh Vala was attacked during the operation to locate and rescue the lioness.

Arjansukh Sarpanch Kalubhai said farmers were increasingly afraid to enter their fields. “Working in the fields has become extremely dangerous. Farmers and labourers are scared because of repeated attacks by lions and leopards,” he said.

Forest Department teams led by ACF Rajan Jadhav have been searching for the lioness since Thursday night. Officials have found its pugmarks and launched a rescue operation with veterinary teams.

Jadhav said, “Our team reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the attacks. We traced the lioness and continued the search through the night. The operation to capture the animal is underway.”

Villagers have demanded immediate capture of the lioness, saying the attacks have created fear during the peak farming season.