A 34-year-old man's body partially-eaten by a lion was found in Gujarat's Amreli, sparking a cloud of mystery in the district over the suspicious conditions in which he died. However, the forest department later launched a joint probe with the police after suspecting foul play in the incident. 

The body was found on Thursday in the Savarkundla taluka between Hathila and Kahlpar villages, following which the forest department launched a rigorous investigation, Times Of India reported. The deceased, identified as Nazeem Qureshi, was a resident of Gariyadhar town in Bhavnagar district. He had recently came to visit his in-laws in Hathila village, where he is believed to have died on Wednesday, the report said citing officials.

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Body Appeared To Be In Suspicious Condition, Mobile Phone Missing

The forest officials found pugmarks and other evidence at the spot, which the experts confirmed belonged to a lion. This made the officials deduce that the big cat partially devoured the body. However, the officials are investigating whether the lion ate the body after the man's death or if it attacked and killed the man. Deputy conservator of forest (Gir East) Vikas Yadav told TOI that the man's body was found far from his home in a suspicious condition. 

"We learned that there was a family dispute. His motorcycle was found parked nearby, but his mobile phone was missing," Yadav told TOI.

Meanwhile, forest officials have set up cages to capture the lion. They are also surveying the area to locate the big cat. Police are also exploring all possible angles surround Qureshi's death, including whether he was intoxicated, fainted after falling off his motorcycle, and was attacked by the lion thereafter, or if he was murdered even before the body of was found by the lion. The missing mobile phone, wallet, and the likelihood of injuries being caused by a weapon are being probed, TOI reported citing sources.  An officer from Vanda police station said: "The case requires a detailed investigation as several aspects need to be determined." The body was sent to Bhavnagar Sir T Hospital for forensic postmortem which would help ascertain the exact cause of Qureshi's death. Police have recorded statements of his in-laws as well.

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