New Delhi: Despite demands for the protection for the rights of animals, increasing awareness and even a PIL filed in May 2016 with the Supreme Court seeking stricter penalty in cases of animal cruelty by NGO Angel Trust in the wake of increased number of cases in the country where animals have been cruelly killed or hit, the abuses against animals continue unabated.
According to animal activists, rescuers and custodian of animal rights, despite the awareness, the atrocities have increased, as laws against cruelty remain obsolete.
It has become the need of the hour that the prevailing ‘toothless’ law needs to be amended, and there are calls for a stringent action or rigorous punishment for offenders. According to the Delhi Police data, as many as 105 cases had been registered till mid-November under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Last week, an act of brutality by a man in Dwarka threw light on animal atrocities. The accused, in an inebriated state, had severed legs of a pup. The incident caused a furore on social media, among animal lovers and activists. Even the senior police officials, including DCP southwest, Surendra Kumar, who took to his official Twitter handle, stated, “Punitive proceeding u/s 11 of PCA act has been initiated against the offender at P.S. Palam”.
“The life of an animal costs only Rs 50. It doesn’t matter with what or how it has been brutally killed, ran over, drove over or thrown off the building and even some cases stabbed to death or poisoned. The matter of the fact remains that the life of an animal has reduced to Rs 50,” pointed, Ms Duggal, a member of NGO Friendicoes.
On a daily basis, rescuers and animal rights activists claim they receive over 20 to 25 distress calls from parts of the city. Smitha, an animal activist based in Lajpat Nagar said, “We receive over 10 to 12 calls daily. At times, the number is even more. As welfare activists, what can we do? We are helpless, as the law does nothing. Even the police becomes mute spectators and do not extend a helping hand.”
Rahul, a rescuer based in Moti Bagh, believes that we need to educate people about how to behave with stray dogs. “We can’t forcibly make non dog lovers love dog but help them educate and make them aware how to deal with them rather than simply going on a killing spree,” he added.
Meanwhile, keeping a close watch on the injured pup named ‘Sultan’, the southwest deputy commissioner of police, Surender Kumar on Saturday night informed about its health, “Sultan taken to Apollo Vets Healthcare today. Healing satisfactorily and taking feed properly.”
