Lahore police arrest owners of lioness who attacked girl, seize 11 beasts

Police in Lahore on Thursday arrested two owners of a pet lioness who attacked and injured a girl a day earlier, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The police also seized 11 lions and lionesses being kept by the accused.

The eight-year-old girl was injured in Lahore's Bhekewal village area of Iqbal Town after the lioness attacked her on Wednesday night.

According to police, the child suffered injuries to her leg and ear and was immediately shifted to the hospital, 

The lioness had been illegally kept at a private residence in Bhekewal Village, where the incident took place. After the attack, the suspects fled the area along with the animal.

Teams from the police and the Punjab Wildlife Department launched a search operation and traced the suspects to Nawankot area.

The lioness who attacked the girl and 10 other animals including four lionesses, three lions and three cubs were seized and the accused were arrested within three hours following the incident.

The suspects did not possess a licence to keep a wild animal and legal proceedings have been initiated against them.

The accused have shifted the beasts to Lahore from Sheikhupura recently.

Reporter: Abid Chaudhry