Dog killing in Kerala -latest newspaper article

[Guest guest]

It seems we have rattled a few cages!

It would be nice though if The Hindu got it right. This incident was the same

one previously reported on SATURDAY night that I have already circulated (nobody

was assaulted ,we only protested with our voices!).

They still got the name wrong 'Animal rights Kerala 'as opposed to 'Animal

Rescue Kerala' , but at least this time they let us have our say!

 

thehindu wrote:

hindu article

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This article has been sent to you by avis ( avis@iarkerala )

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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/02/14/stories/2007021422410300.htm)

Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram

 

Anti-rabies scheme put on hold

 

Special Correspondent

 

Municipal employees attacked

 

 

Thiruvananthapuram:

 

The Integrated Rabies Control Programme launched by the City Corporation has

been put on hold following the assault on a team of veterinary volunteers who

were capturing stray dogs on Sunday night.

 

Chairman of the Corporation's standing committee on Health G.R. Anil said the

decision to suspend the programme was taken in the light of the series of

attacks on municipal employees by animal rights activists.

 

Civic officials said the veterinary volunteers were reluctant to carry on the

project unless they were assured of protection.

 

Protest voiced

 

The decision has evoked strong reaction from the Federation of Residents'

Associations, Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT). A press release quoting FRAT president

T.K. Bhaskara Panicker and general secretary Paraniyam Devakumar demanded action

against the assailants.

 

It said the foreign nationals involved in the incident were guilty of violating

visa conditions. " They have no right to disrupt the rabies control programme

taken up by the City Corporation under the provisions of the Kerala

Municipalities Act, following instructions from the High Court and the Ombudsman

for Local Self-Government Institutions, " they said.

 

The press release also urged the Government to institute an investigation into

the source of funds for the organisation.

 

Volunteers of the Animal Rights Kerala said they had only protested against the

killing of stray dogs by the Corporation. They claimed that the organisation had

entered into an agreement with the Vizhinjam and Venganoor grama panchayats to

handle stray dogs.

 

" On Sunday, the Corporation squad was operating outside their jurisdiction in

the Vizhinjam panchayat area. We had protested against this, " a spokesperson for

the organisation said.

 

Mr. Anil admitted that suspending the Rabies Control Programme would create

difficulties for the citizens at a time when the Attukal Pongala festival was

round the corner.

 

Menace

 

" Every year, we capture a large number of stray dogs from the wards neighbouring

the temple during the run up to the festival which attracts tens of thousands of

devotees from all over the State. There is a likelihood that the devotees will

be exposed to marauding stray dogs, " he said.

 

Recounting Sunday's incident, one of the animal handlers, Suresh, who was part

of the Corporation squad, said the team was capturing stray dogs from Poonthura

when they had received a telephone call alerting them to the menace created by a

stray dog at Vellar on the outskirts of the city.

 

Refuge sought

 

" As soon as we reached the spot, our vehicle was blocked by a group of people,

including foreigners. They surrounded us and pushed the driver out of the

vehicle. One of the squad members was kicked and punched. We managed to escape

and sought refuge on the premises of the Samudra Hotel. The security personnel

at the hotel informed the police. "

 

Mr. Suresh said the police were reluctant to file a case against the assailants.

 

" The police wanted to hush up the case. They asked us to settle the matter

without making a big issue of it, " he said.

 

One of the injured squad members was admitted to hospital. The police have filed

a case against four foreign nationals in connection with the incident.

 

 

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