The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued an advisory to the NESCO Exhibition Centre after animal activists accused the latter of relocating around 40 dogs as they mysteriously went missing.
On Tuesday, The Free Press Journal reported that animal activists raised alarms over the mysterious missing of 40 stray dogs from the premises of NESCO Centre in Goregaon (E). The activists raised concerns about the timing of the incident as the centre was recently asked to designate feeding zones for stray animals.
In a complaint written to the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on April 26, Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Foundation claimed that around 150 dogs used to live on the premises till April 18, out of which, 40 have mysteriously went missing, hinting at illegal relocation. It demanded the police to register an offence against NESCO authorities for allegedly relocating the dogs.
On Wednesday, the assistant general manager of BMC’s veterinary health department issued an advisory to NESCO Centre reproducing the AWBI guidelines regarding stray animals. The civic body highlighted that beating street dogs and driving them away is not allowed. It also said that the strays should be released back into the same locality after being relocated for any sterilisation and that the citizens are allowed to feed the strays inside community premises and gated complexes.
“Animal cruelty is an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Indian Penal Code with imprisonment and fine. Attempts to interfere with, or harass persons who choose to look after and feed community dogs maybe tantamount to very grave offence of criminal intimidation,” read the advisory by BMC.
Roshan Pathak, animal rights advisor with PAL Foundation, said, “Relocation of dogs is a punishable offence under Section 325 of Bharatiya Nyay Samhita and the Animal Cruelty Act, 1911 but Vanrai police is not registering an offence in this matter. We have complained about the inaction to the deputy commissioner, additional commissioner as well as Mumbai police commissioner but none of them have shown any interest in this case.”
