Mumbai: In a heart-warming exercise of instilling compassion among law-enforcers, around 100 police personnel of the Mira-Bhayandar and Vasai-Virar (MBVV) commissionerate were trained to combat animal cruelty. While the workshop’s primary aim was to sensitise the police officials, it also targeted to lower serious crimes as violent criminals have a history of cruelty to animals.
On Tuesday, nearly 100 police officials from Mira-Bhayandar Vasai Virar police commissionerate gathered at the commissioner’s office to attend a workshop conducted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) on combating cruelty to animals.
Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar Police Workshop on Animal Rights by PETA India | File Photo
The three-hour workshop included police constables, head constables, assistant sub-inspectors, sub-inspectors, assistant police inspectors, and police inspectors from all 20 police stations.
The session covered key provisions of the animal protection laws including the prevention of cruelty to animals act 1960, the wild life (protection) act 1972 and the Bharatiya nyaya sanhita 2023.
This initiative was part of PETA India’s ongoing efforts to sensitise law enforcement personnel and empower animal rights activists across India to ensure that crimes against animals are addressed with the seriousness they deserve. This important initiative was supported by Maharashtra Add. DGP (administration) Madhukar Pandey, MBVV police commissioner Niket Kaushik and Thane-based animal rights activist Dr. Narendra Gupta.
Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar Police Workshop on Animal Rights by PETA India | File Photo
Similar workshops have previously been conducted for Border Security Force officials in Gwalior, Chhattisgarh police, Goa police, Pune city police, Nagpur city police, Belagavi and Hubli–Dharwad police and Sikkim police.
Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar Police Workshop on Animal Rights by PETA India | File Photo
Meet Ashar, PETA India’s legal advisor and director of cruelty response, said, “The role of police is vital in keeping animals safe. We commend MBVV police for its goal of cracking down on cruelty to animals. PETA India is pleased to support them in this effort. MBVV police taking a zero tolerance stand on cruelty to animals will protect animals and society at large."
PETA India noted that many violent criminals have a documented history of cruelty to animals. A study published in Forensic Research and Criminology International Journal warns, “Those who engage in cruelty to animals were [three] times more likely to commit other crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, assault, harassment, threats, and drug/substance abuse.”
