Minor boy attacked by ‘pet’ lion

A minor boy was reportedly injured after being attacked by a ‘pet’ lion in the limits of Gulberg Police Station. The incident came to light when a CCTV footage went viral on social media. The footage shows a purpotedly pet lion on a chain mauling a young boy. In the footage, recorded on May 14, people are seen standing outside a house in Gulberg area.

 

One man stands with a young lion, which has a chain around its neck. Soon, a boy comes and stands close the lion. The big cat turns and attacks the child. In the next instant people are seen struggling to get the child out of the lion’s grip. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Central SP Malik Murtaza Tabassum said that a person involved in the incident has been detained and a case will be registered against him following initial investigation.

The person holding the lion in the CCTV footage is not the owner but a friend of his, said the SSP, adding that owner has been identified as Umair. A case has been lodged against the owner, he said. Meanwhile, when Gulberg SHO Sub-Inspector Mustafa Kamal was contacted, he said a person has been detained for questioning and an investigation is under way, but he could not name the detainee. Kamal said no one had lodged a complaint with the police regarding the minor boy’s injury. He said it was suspected that the child belongs to the same household, which had kept the animal as a pet.