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Amreli forest officials arrested Veljibhai Matang from Simran village under Savarkundla taluka for allegedly possessing a blackbuck skin and two wild animal nails. Acting on a tip-off, the Gir (East) forest division conducted a search at Matang’s home, recovering the protected animal parts used for tantric rituals.
The Wildlife Protection Act prohibits possession of any body parts from protected species. When questioned, Matang claimed the items belonged to his grandfather and had been kept for worship for over two decades.
Officials suspect the nails might belong to a lion or leopard and have sent them for forensic analysis. Matang has been booked under relevant wildlife laws, with further investigations ongoing.
