Animals made to pay for misdeeds of humans

[Guest guest]

 

Animals made to pay for misdeeds of humans

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

 

 

Pathankot, July 30

The animals were made to pay for the misdeeds of humans here. Instead of

booking those who let the animals free in the city, the council authorities

vented their ire on poor animals after a person was killed by a stray bull.

Stray bulls were beaten, their legs tied together and lifted with the

machines used for lifting sewerage dustbins.

The inhuman treatment meted to animals led to the death of a bull. The

others animals were also injured seriously and residents were made to

witness the gory scenes.

The animal lovers have demanded registration of a case under the Prevention

of Cruelty to Animals Act and Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955, against

the council authorities.

A stray ox had killed 63-year-old Kewal Kishan, resident of the New Shastri

Nagar locality, here yesterday.

Kewal Kishan was standing outside his house when the animal attacked him. He

received serious injuries in the stomach and later died in the local Civil

Hospital.

Ms Neelam, a sweeper in the municipal council, was attacked by another ox

when she was working in the main market area. She received serious injuries

in the stomach. She has been admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

The death of a person aroused the local council authorities from its

slumber. They unmindfully beat up an animal and dragged it out of the town.

The animal later succumbed to the injuries, inflicted on it by the council

authorities.

However, the residents have alleged that they have been complaining against

the stray cattle menace in the town to the council authorities but no action

has been taken.

Mr Gopal Mahajan, a former municipal councilor in whose ward the person was

killed, said he had written a number of times to the council authorities

about stray animals attacking people, but no action was taken.

Most of the stray cattle in the town are released by the local dairies. Many

dairies are operating in the local municipal council areas illegally. The

dairy owners release the male calves on the road.

The council authorities, when asked, said they had planned to build a

“gaushala?for tackling the stray cattle menace. However, the project could

not be completed due to the opposition from residents of Anandpur Rara

village.

Under the present set of rules, the persons releasing their cattle in the

town could not be identified. The Punjab Government had passed a herd

registration Act, under which the animals were to be registered in the name

of the owners.

Had the Act come into force, the authorities could have been able to fix

responsibility on those releasing their animals in the town.

However, the act was still under the consideration of the Union Government.

 

Link:

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060731/punjab1.htm#7