(IN): Animal lovers cry for fish

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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100402/jsp/northeast/story_12292430.jsp

 

<http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100402/jsp/northeast/story_12292430.jsp>

Animal lovers cry for fish

A STAFF REPORTER

 

<http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100402/jsp/northeast/story_12292430.jsp>

 

*Guwahati, April 1:* The dying ornamental fishes at Rani tea estate have

stirred animal lovers across the country and abroad, with pleas to save

these pouring in.

 

The editor of London-based *Animal People*, Merritt Clifton, has sent a mail

to Sangita Goswami, chairperson of the Assam chapter of the People for

Animals, to do something to save the fishes.

 

*Animal People* is a leading independent newspaper providing investigative

coverage of animal protection worldwide.

 

Another animal lover, Subhobroto Ghosh, has also sent a mail to Goswami on

similar lines.

 

Ghosh is a People for Animal activist based in Chennai.

 

*The Telegraph *had reported the fate of the colourful fishes in the

aftermath of the rioting in the tea estate.

 

The tea estate factory, which houses rows of aquariums with colourful

ornamental fishes, was damaged in an attack by villagers on March 22.

 

Violence erupted on the estate when the owner sprayed bullets on protesters

who had gathered outside the bungalow after he allegedly assaulted a woman

of a nearby village. A schoolboy was killed and four others injured in the

shooting.

 

Goswami said she and a few members of the organisation had gone to Rani tea

estate a couple of days ago but were not allowed to enter by security

personnel posted there.

 

“From outside we could see the broken aquariums inside the dark, dingy

factory,” Goswami said. The supply of oxygen to these aquariums stopped

after the power supply to the factory was snapped.

 

“The district administration should have taken necessary steps to save these

beautiful fishes,” Goswami said.

 

“Most of the fishes may have died by now, it is very unfortunate that we

could not do anything,” she said.

 

Although the district administration had asked the planter’s family members

to remove the fishes and other valuable items from the tea estate factory

and the bungalow, no one from the owner’s family has returned to the garden

till today.

 

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