Mumbai: Mulund police fail to register an offence against a car driver who killed a four-month-old puppy in a hit-and-run case, even after 15 days of the incident. The dog’s feeder has alleged that the police recorded statements of all the people involved but did not register a first information report in the case.
Four-Month-Old Community Puppy Killed by Speeding Car in Mulund
On July 8, a speeding car in the St. Pius X Colony located on Nahur Road in Mulund (W) allegedly hit a four-month-old community dog Bella, resulting in the puppy’s death. The dog’s feeder Kevin Braganza, who lives in the society, approached Mulund police and submitted a written complaint.
In a written complaint to the animal welfare board of India (AWBI), Braganza alleged that the police failed to register an offence in the matter even after his multiple visits to the police station and asked him to settle the matter with an apology.
However, he claimed that the police proceeded with the investigation after animal welfare officer Roshan Pathak explained the legal provisions to file a first information report (FIR) in the case.
Police Allegedly Urged Settlement Despite Eyewitnesses and Video Evidence
Braganza added that the police official accompanied him to the accident site, took video footage on his pen drive, visited the accused residing in the next building, took his statement, took the statement of the security guard, eye witness and his statement.
However, he alleged that the police ultimately claimed that an FIR cannot be filed in the matter because it did not show cruelty to animals and they were not booking the 80-year-old accused on humanitarian grounds.
“The senior police official was concerned that the junior officer would be penalised by the court and his promotion would be hindered. We have eye witnesses to the incident as well as live footage of the incident. I have buried the body in the society premises and am ready to unearth the body for post mortem, if required,” read Braganza’s complaint.
Animal Welfare Officer Had to Intervene to Press for Legal Action
Roshan Pathak, animal welfare officer and animal rights advisor at Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Foundation, said, “Even with specific animal cruelty laws and provisions under the new criminal law, police are still not interested in filing a complaint. It seems like the officer is attempting to shield the culprit. In order to ensure that animal lovers do not encounter any difficulties when filing a complaint pertaining to animals, I request to Mumbai police to maintain an appropriate program for raising awareness of animals in their department and to establish a separate department for animal cruelty cases in each police station.”
