Transfer case lever stuck?

I recently imported a 2000 jb23 (kei) Jimny from Japan to the US. Yesterday I was testing the transfer case/4wd and now it’s stuck between 4L and 4H and everything is locked up. If I push the lever hard forward I can move around a bit but you can hear the gears gnashing.

I’ve tried lifting one wheel, one side, lifting the front, the rear, rocking the truck, and nothing frees up the selector. 

I assume I need to realign the selectors. 

I pulled the selector boot off and removed the three bolts on the top of the turret cover. The lever is stuck pushed down and I can’t for the life of me pull the lever out of the transfer case.

I attached a picture looking down at the top of the transfer case turret. 

how the heck am I supposed to free the lever or the transfer case? 

Here’s a better picture. Does the entire circled assembly come out or just the lever with the t and nylon cups?

Firstly was you driving it on hard ground ?
I'm not familiar with standard transfer I have sj one in mine 
Someone will be able to advise you this I am sure 

But if you have been driving on road or hard packed ground
You could try lifting all 4 wheels of the ground put it in 2nd gear drive the wheels round then reverse drive it
Then try the leaver again 

Also if you have gravel or mud near to 
You can try spinning the wheels like wheel spin forwards and reverse 
 

Do not drive Jimny on road in 4wd it suffers gear wind up
Because it has no diff in the transfer box 

It might tell you this on the sun visor 

I was in a dirt parking pad by my house with a little gully to make sure it was working right. In pulled onto the driveway and then it locked up. I did lift a front wheel and it was definitely bound up. 

I’ve had jeeps for years so I know to keep it on the dirt. Maybe the jimny is more sensitive?

Yes mine is sensitive normally a couple of wheel spins in reverse let's me out of 4wd