The Tripura government has stirred controversy by suspending Senior Forest Officer, IFS Pravin Lal Agrawal, in connection with the naming of a lion and a lioness as 'Akbar' and 'Sita' respectively by zoo authorities in Tripura.

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Tripura government ordered Agrawal's suspension, mandating him to remain in Agartala during the period without leaving headquarters...

Digital Desk: The Tripura government has stirred controversy by suspending Senior Forest Officer, IFS Pravin Lal Agrawal, in connection with the naming of a lion and a lioness as 'Akbar' and 'Sita' respectively by zoo authorities in Tripura. Agrawal, holding the positions of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW), faced the brunt of the decision.

The lions, recently relocated to Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri from Tripura's Sepahijala Zoo, triggered a dispute when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad voiced opposition against keeping 'Akbar' and 'Sita' in the same enclosure, approaching the Calcutta High Court.

Responding to the plea, the High Court directed the West Bengal government to rename the big cats, revealing that the names were assigned by Tripura Zoo authorities in 2016 and 2018. Accordingly, the Tripura government ordered Agrawal's suspension, mandating him to remain in Agartala during the period without leaving headquarters without prior authorization.

The episode underscores the intersection of cultural sensitivities, administrative decisions, and wildlife management, sparking debates over naming conventions and religious sentiments.