Mumbai: While the nation is divided in the debate of relocating the stray dogs of Delhi NCR to shelter houses, Mumbai Police took a firm stand against an assaulter who tried to kill a dog. A 24-year-old student along with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India approached the police and got an offence registered against the accused who could be seen hitting the dog with a thick bamboo stick.
Video Evidence Spurs Action
After receiving the video depicting the horrifying beating of a community dog on the head with a thick bamboo stick, PETA India, with the support of local volunteer Aarti Patnayak, filed a complaint at the Saki Naka police station. The police registered a first information report (FIR) against the accused Abdul Gaffar under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The incident took place near Tar Galli, close to Madina Masjid in Jari Mari on Kurla-Andheri Road, on July 31, at approximately 9:15 p.m. In the video, the accused could be seen striking the dog directly on the head with a thick bamboo stick.
Dog Receives Medical Care and Released
The injured dog was admitted to the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals, Parel, for treatment. Following veterinary care and recovery, the dog was released back to Tar Galli on August 6.
Patnayak, who is a CA student and an animal lover, received the video of the gruesome act on a Whatsapp group of animal lovers, which she was also a part of. On the basis of the details received along with the video, she searched for the said dog along with her animal lover friend and found it in an injured condition in Star Galli. According to the FIR, the dog was diagnosed to have suffered injuries in its spinal cord.
PETA Calls for Reporting and Psychological Assessment
Shreedhara Purohit, cruelty response coordinator at PETA India, said, “Those who abuse animals often move on to harming humans. For everyone’s safety, it’s imperative that members of the public report cruelty to animals such as this one to the police. We commend senior police inspector Pramod Tawde of Sakinaka police station for registering the FIR and sending a clear message that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.”
PETA India recommended that perpetrators of animal abuse should undergo a psychiatric evaluation and receive counselling, as abusing animals indicates a deep psychological disturbance. It claimed that research shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals are often repeat offenders who move on to hurting other animals, including humans.
Notably, section 325 of the BNS categorises the maiming or killing of any animal as a cognisable offence and prescribes a punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, or with a fine, or with both. Attempting to kill, maim, or poison any animal is a cognisable offence under section 62 read with section 325 of the BNS. Section 11(l)(a) of the PCA Act prohibits the beating, kicking, torturing or treating of any animal in a manner so as to be subject to unnecessary pain and suffering.
Animal Lovers To Hold Candle March Calling To Save Delhi’s Stray Dogs
While Mumbai’s animal welfare community is coming together to raise awareness and demand justice for street dogs on Thursday at Carter Road, a candle march has been announced by Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Welfare Foundation calling to save Delhi’s street dogs. The march will be held on Sunday from 5pm to 7pm in Andheri (W) and is expected to see participation from animal lovers and activists.
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Roshan Pathak, animal rights advisor with PAL Foundation, said, “The purpose of this march is to support silent animals as we oppose the supreme court’s judgement. We demand that every official of the municipal corporation who fails to provide care to community animals should face strict legal actions. Animals are suffering because of such government officials who failed to sterilise and vaccinate them.”
