Author: Special Correspondent
Publication: The Hindu
Date: July 14, 2006
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/14/stories/2006071402890900.htm
Introduction: Species in sanctuary allegedly
filmed inLagaansans permission
* Officials unsure whether footage was taken
from documentary
* 2 chinkaras injured during the film shooting: eyewitness
* Forest department did not permit commercial use of species
After actor Salman Khan, trouble is now brewing
for Aamir Khan over alleged use of chinkaras in the protected chinkara sanctuary
in Kutch district, Gujarat.
While the State CID (crime) has been asked
to re-investigate poaching charges levelled against Salman Khan while he was
shooting in Kutch for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1998, the State Forest Department
re-opened the case against Aamir Khan for the alleged violation of the Wildlife
Act the same year.
Officials of the State Forest Department said
Aamir Khan had sought permission to film chinkaras in his film, Lagaan, shooting
for which was held mostly in Kutch . The department, however, refused permission
for the commercial use of chinkaras, an endangered species. However, when
released, the film was found to have footage of the species.
The department had ignored the issue then
and closed the matter after some preliminary inquiry. However, following a
fresh complaint filed by a Youth Nature Club, the Forest Department reopened
the case.
Officials of the department were unsure whether
the chinkaras had been filmed in the sanctuary in violation of the Wildlife
Act or footage from a documentary on wild life was used. An eyewitness reportedly
told the officials that the species was freshly filmed and two chinkaras were
injured in the process.
A Forest Department official, however, said
there was no evidence to suggest that a chinkara was killed while filming
Lagaan.
It might not be difficult for the department
to find out some ''eyewitness'' even eight years after the incident because
of the anger against him among the locals.
During the shooting, Aamir allegedly promised
assistance to some of the drought-prone villages where Lagaan had been filmed.
But, villagers said he had failed to keep his promise once shooting was over.
The locals further claimed that he had not adopted these villages, as promised,
after the 2001 quake.
