(IN) Salman Khan courts Bishnoi wrath again

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Salman's

Veer runs into Bishnoi protest 10 Mar 2009, 0015 hrs IST, Avinash Kalla, TNN

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JAIPUR: Actor Salman Khan's brush with the Bishnois continues. The latest

incident involves the crew of the Salman-starrer, Veer, against whom

local Bishnoi

community members have filed an FIR alleging that they had cut four-five

khejri

trees<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bishnoi-protest-against-Salmans-\

Veer/articleshow/4247578.cms#>for

the film's shooting at Gajner, a small in Kolayat district some 50km

from Bikaner.

 

The Bishnois, a fiercely pro-environment community, regard the khejri tree

as sacred and cutting it is illegal.

 

Local Bishnois say the trees were cut for use on the sets of the film. They

even claim to have pictures of the trees being taken away on vehicles.

 

The film crew though outrightly denied any such thing. Sanjay Dhabade, art

director<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bishnoi-protest-against-Salma\

ns-Veer/articleshow/4247578.cms#>,

said, " It was just a dummy tree that we made to shoot a sequence where

Salman was required to bump into the tree and an issue is being created out

of nothing to hamper our shoot.''

 

Evidently, Salman's very presence in the area had alerted the community.

Even before the star had stepped into Gajner, local Bishnois alerted the

district administration to be vigilant over protecting wildlife and the

nearby forest. " In the past, Salman was involved in killing black bucks

while shooting in Jodhpur and keeping that in mind, and the recent Amber

Fort controversy (where the shooting of Veer had led to a wall collapse), we

have been telling the officials in the district to guard the wildlife and

surroundings,'' said Imilal Nain, a local Bishnoi leader.

 

The alleged tree-cutting incident happened on Saturday. Despite the Bishnois

being acquainted with every section of Indian wildlife laws, local leaders

said it wasn't easy for them to get the case registered.

 

" After clicking pictures of the vehicles carrying the trees along with some

unit people, we went to the Gajner police station on Sunday morning. But

they refused to

lodge<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bishnoi-protest-against-Salmans-\

Veer/articleshow/4247578.cms#>an

FIR. It was only after lot of locals gathered outside the police

station

and others arrived from neighbouring villages that a complaint under

sections 41 and 42 of the wildlife act was registered,'' said Nain, a local

representative of All India Jeev Rakshak Bishnoi Sabha.

 

He added that the cops were present at the site when the trees were being

transported.

 

Confirming the incident, a cop at the Gajner police station said, " A

complaint has been registered against vehicle number RJ-10 G0935 that was

allegedly used by the crew of Veer. The vehicle has registration from Churu

and we have begun proceedings.''