Is love for animals a crime, asks Karuna C Adhikari. A fashion designer living in Natraj Apartments at Versova, Karuna was reportedly abused and hit by members of a family in her society.
Is love for animals a crime, asks Karuna C Adhikari. A fashion designer living in Natraj Apartments at Versova, Karuna was reportedly abused and hit by members of a family in her society after she tried to prevent their 13-year-old from whacking cats and kittens in the neighbourhood.
The incident took place at around 8.45 pm on April 16 when Karuna was returning home from work. “I saw the boy hitting a cat with a coconut stalk, something he would do regularly. In order to stop him from repeating the act, I hit him lightly with the same stalk only to make him understand how it hurts,” said Karuna, adding that soon after she left for her home.
However, just as Karuna was about to enter her house, she was accosted by the boy’s mother, aunt and grandfather. The three, who had brought the teen along, began to abuse and hit her, apart from threatening to kill her. “When I tried to explain why I did what I did, it got worst.
The women shouted that the child was free to kill the cat and do whatever he wished with it,” said Karuna. “Who are you to stop him,” they asked Karuna.
When Karuna made an attempt to enter her flat to avoid any further flare-up, the two shouting women grabbed her wrist and tried pulling her out of the house and hit her repeatedly. Somehow she managed to free herself and entered her house. “They then barged into my house and rained blows on my head and stomach. With great difficulty, I finally managed to push them out of house and close the door,” said Karuna.
What was even more surprising was it took Karuna nearly 10 days to get an FIR registered at the local Versova police station on April 25. “Earlier, the police flatly refused to file an FIR and registered a non-cognisable offence instead. I then took up the matter with the DCP, who directed them to file an FIR in the case,” said Karuna, demanding immediate action.
However, the accused have rubbished the charges levelled against them. “Though we did go to her house to ask why she beat our child, none of us abused her or entered her house,” said Quasim Turk, the boy’s grandfather, claiming that the family too had registered a counter-case against Karuna.
The society office bearers said they were not against animals. “We try to protect them and even feed them at times,” said Saba Khan, chairman of Natraj Apartment, where the incident took place. “We will not remove or dislocate them from society premises,” she added.
Stating that the probe was at preliminary stage, senior inspector Nandkumar Mhetar said, “We will book the Turk family members after getting sufficient evidences.”
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