School bus kills dog, animal lover lodges plaint

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-02/mumbai/35547357_1_stray-dog-driver-school-bus

NAVI MUMBAI: A Juinagar resident and animal lover, Rama Katarnavare (46), lodged a complaint against a rash school bus driver on Thursday night at the Nerul police station for fatally running over a stray dog in her locality.

While the police registered the FIR against the driver, Surendra Kondvilkar, under IPC Section 279 (rash driving) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960), he has not yet been arrested.

Katarnavare told TOI that she had requested Kondvilkar to drive slowly inside the railway colony in Sector 22. "However, he never heeded my pleas. On Thursday, Kondvilkar was again speeding inside the colony and ran over a stray dog. I immediately informed the cops, who conducted a panchnama at the spot," said Katarnavare. Her son, Amit, said the accused did not show remorse even at the police station. Meanwhile, veterinarian Dr Pradeep Londe of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation said, "We were informed about the dog's death on Thursday itself and have taken its body." 

'Protected' bulls rescued

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-12/mumbai/33788894_1_bullocks-animal-activists-sinnar

NAVI MUMBAI: Animal activists rescued 14 out of a total 34 bullocks from being illegally slaughtered on Tuesday. The animals had been ordered safe custody by a court recently. The 34 bullocks were rescued at Padgha in Thane-Rural area early on Tuesday while they were being smuggled from Dhule to Deonar in Mumbai by road.

Thane Rural police has arrested three persons and are also taking further steps against a Mumbai based butcher who violated the order of JMFC court in Sinnar to take 14 of the bullocks for slaughter.

PFA activist Chetan Sharma told TOI: We had received a specific tip-off that the 34 bullocks were being transported in three tempos forslaughtering. Most of the cattle has almost fainted at the time of rescue as they were badly cramped in the vehicles for the long, arduous journey to the abattoir.''

The police team led by Padgha senior inspector Kishore Pasalkar and sub-inspector Sneha Mehtar successfully intercepted the tempos with the live cargo and arrested three persons on the spot.The deputy superintendent of police (DySP) Thane-Rural Shrinivas Ghadge stated: This is a commendable raid and rescue of 34 large animals in our jurisdiction. We have confirmed that 14 of the bullocks were ordered legal protection by the court in Sinnar, near Nashik. Hence, the butcher now faces contempt of court proceedings.''

Sharma added that the Govandi based butcher, Mohammed Pasha, had earlier stated in the Sinnar court that he will take care of the 14 bullocks and produce them in front of the court whenever ordered.

A Sinnar based activist, VikasGunjal, had intercepted these 14 bullocks on August 16 this year while there were being taken for slaughtering.

The lawyer of PFA, Ambika Hiranandani, commented: Any person who commercially exploits animals - be it a butcher or a Victoria horse owner - cannot be trusted with the safe custody of animals. So, I appeal to our honourable courts to allow rescued cattle to be given to activists instead, so that they cannot be again sent for slaughter, as is seen in the Padgha case now.''

The rescued cattle have now been sent to a cow shelter at Bhiwandi.

Firecrackers set off to kill stray in Belapur

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-02/mumbai/33548438_1_stray-dogs-aditi-lahiri-animal-rights

NAVI MUMBAI: A stray met a horrifying death inside Rajiv Gandhi stadium in CBD-Belapur. According to activists, a firecracker explosion was set off to kill the eight-month-old dog. The stray's charred remains were found in a green room at the civic-run sports stadium on Saturday.

"A local veterinarian who examined the dog's remains stated in the report that the stray died due to serious burn injuries, a broken vertebral column and ribs," said animal rights campaigner Aditi Lahiri. "Somebody had fastened firecrackers on its body and then lit them. Several matchsticks have also been found at the spot," she added.

While Lahiri and other activists like Ajay Marathe have not complained to the CBD police, they plan to meet the Navi Mumbai police commissioner to highlight growing atrocities against animals. "The dog's carcass was first noticed by some of the students who study at the civic library near the area. We are alarmed that horrible and cruel methods were used by unknown people to kill strays dogs," said Lahiri.

Earlier, Navi Mumbai activists had complained about fatal attacks on puppies and dogs and attempts to poison animals. "Since early this year, there has been an outbreak of the dangerous distemper viral disease among stray dogs. However, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has not been able to do anything about the sick animals since there is barely any space in the dog pound, where sterilizations take place," said Lahiri.

"An RTI query revealed that Cidco had earlier given plots to the civic body in Sanpada, but this land has still not been used to take care of animals," she added

"It seems like no one is interested in animal rights in Navi Mumbai, which is why stray dogs are being blatantly killed without any fear of the law," said animal welfare officer Ganesh Nayak of NGO Animals Matter To Me.

"Around four years ago, more than 40 strays were poisoned to death in a single night in Nerul. However, the culprits were never brought to book despite a police complaint," he added.