Tripura chief conservator of forests suspended for naming lion Akbar and lioness Sita

The Calcutta High Court had asked the West Bengal Zoo Authority to consider renaming the lioness and lion, and wondered why create a controversy by giving such names. (Representational image: Unsplash)

The Tripura government has suspended IFS officer Pravin L Agrawal following the row over naming a lion and lioness 'Akbar' and 'Sita', on which a case was filed by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), officials said on Monday.

The lion and lioness were sent to Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri from Tripura's Sepahijala Zoological Park on February 12.

The VHP's northern West Bengal unit filed a petition before the Jalpaiguri circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court, praying that the names be changed as it has hurt the religious sentiments.

Agrawal, who was posted as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife & Ecotourism), was suspended on February 22 in connection with the incident, Tripura's Forest Secretary Avinash Kanfade told PTI.

The court had asked the West Bengal Zoo Authority to consider renaming the lioness and lion, and wondered why create a controversy by giving such names.

Taking into consideration the entire gamut of the row, the BJP government in Tripura had sought an explanation from Agrawal, who was earlier the chief wildlife warden.

Agrawal denied naming the lion couple as Sita and Akbar, but investigation revealed that the names were given by Tripura wildlife officials before they were sent to West Bengal during the animal exchange programme, leading to Agrawal's suspension.

"Since Agrawal was the chief wildlife warden of Tripura during the relocation process of the animals, he was placed under suspension," the official said.

Agrawal, a 1994-batch officer, was not available for comments. He has been asked not to leave his headquarters in Agartala without obtaining prior permission from the competent authority, India Today reported.

(With inputs from PTI)

Read more: VHP moves court after lioness 'Sita' is housed with lion 'Akbar' at Bengal safari