After a relentless effort that lasted almost 20 hours, an army of animal activists along with Vasai resident Ganesh Rane finally managed to get some justice for four puppies who were burnt alive by an unknown person on Thursday.
After flatly refusing to register a complaint saying they were 'just dogs', the Nalasopara police did so on Friday, but not before passing more distasteful remarks. One of the police officers told complainant Ganesh Rane, “If you love dogs so much why don't you buy a bungalow and live with them there?”
Dna had carried a report on its front page on Friday about the brutal murder of the puppies at Krishna Sagar Housing Complex in Evershine of Vasai East, while two from the litter were saved in the nick of time.
However, Rane and several animal activists again gathered at the police station early on Friday to protest against their lack of action in one of the worst cases of animal cruelty seen so far. Soon, the police went on the back foot and said they didn't take the complaint because their officers were 'tired'. Senior inspector Ravindra Badguzar said, “Our officers were tired from election duty and only five were taking the complaint at the police station on Thursday. But on Friday we registered the case under section 428 (mischief by killing or maiming an animal) of the Indian Penal Code and under relevant sections of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and are investigating the matter.”
The case also threw light on the way complainants of animal cruelty cases are treated. Rane was made to wait for hours before his statement was taken. According to Rane, senior inspector Badguzar not only humiliated him, but was also rude to the animal activists when they tried to explain the matter to him.
“The inspector needs to learn how to behave with a complainant. He not only humiliated Rane but also tried to discourage us from going ahead with the complaint. But after we protested he assured us that he will investigate the case and punish whoever is behind it,” said Omkar Lad, an animal activist from Vasai.
“When we need help, we turn to the police. However, their behaviour was quite bad and they often turned abusive,” said Rane.
A pivotal role was played in the case by the Peace for Animal Welfare Association (PAWA), led by Salim Charania. “They need to learn that animals too are living things instead of being rude to the complainant and not filing the complaint. Section 428 of IPC and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act has to be applied as soon as a complainant approached the police with an animal cruelty case,” said Charania.
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