Stop the inhumane treatment of strays
- by: Varsha Mehta
- recipient: Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister, Maharashtra
Vrindavan Society in Thane, Maharashtra, is in news for all the wrong reasons - they have murder on their hands. It is a double crime because it was perpetrated on trusting, defenseless and mute victims. About 40 stray dogs in this locality were poisoned to death on February 15-16, 2007. This is repulsive and unacceptable in a society that prides itself as being civilised and having respect for all living beings. It is unfortunate that the so-called educated people living in upper class localities and having access to both information and resources resort to such measures to resolve what appears a 'menace' to them. The perpetrators of this crime need to be booked under under Section 148 of the Indian Penal Code and also under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for the crime they have committed, so that such incidents will not recur, and the example will serve as a deterrent to others who may want to resort to violent and inhuman means to eliminate the weak, mute and disadvantaged creatures. As the respected Chief Minister of the state of Maharashtra, you are kindly requested to take note of the incident and ensure that the guilty are brought to book. Thank you.
The dogs, according to residents, have been poisoned by those who think the animals are a menace. White tablets found all over the society has perturbed residents the most. %u201CIn most places we found the pills barely 50 metres from the bodies. In some cases the pills were just about a foot away. We have a feeling that whoever is responsible for this must have used these pills to kill the dogs,%u201D said Raman.The Thane Municipal Corporation, which has taken possession of all the dead strays, should be asked to provide a report on the cause of death. Appropriate action against the people who committed the offense should initiated.While many residents of the locality have expressed anger over the incident, this is not enough.It maybe mentioned that TMC boasts one of the best sterilisation centres in the state, and yet has failed to take preventive measures for the rise in population of strays in the city.
