New DelhiThis week a gruesome incident of an infant being mauled to death allegedly by stray dogs at a government hospital in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district has sparked yet another tragedy. Animal welfare activists have alleged that several stray dogs and puppies in the area were rounded up, tortured and dumped in a secluded forest area by Sirohi officials.
Disturbing videos shared on social media showed municipal workers thrashing the dogs with metal tongs, dragging them through the streets and throwing them into a truck. Some of the animals in the video are seen injured or in pain.
In Sirohi the municipality shifted the dogs in brutal conditions. They are not telling us the location and have left the dogs in tied condition. Please help us find these dogs. They cannot survive there. #HelpDogsinSirohi @RajGovOfficial pic.twitter.com/XmyXswyGzn
— Tripti Jain Ⓥ 🌱 (@Vegantrapti) March 3, 2023
The process started in Sirohi District Hospital from Monday night. according to a PTI reportsA one-month-old baby sleeping next to its mother in the tuberculosis ward of the hospital where the infant’s father was admitted. Police said the CCTV footage shows that two dogs entered the ward and then came out with the infant. One ndtv report as well Quoted The child’s father said that his wife woke up and “found dogs nibbling at the child”.
However, even as questions were raised about the hospital’s possible culpability in the tragedy, the Sirohi district administration on Tuesday launched a drive to pick up all stray dogs in the vicinity. They allegedly used tongs, the use of which is banned Animal Birth Control Rules 2022To trap the animals allegedly before releasing them into the wild.
People for Street Dogs, a local animal welfare group in Abu Road city, has written to the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Sirohi, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India and the Rajasthan Home Ministry. Minister, among others, to take action in case of “animal cruelty”.
The letter, seen by ThePrint, said the dogs were allegedly “in pain”, “bleeding” and “left to die” in the forest without food and water.
It also questioned how the incident could happen in the hospital despite the “presence of staff and guards”. It further asked how the district authorities were not aware that “illegal street vendors were running stalls… near the hospital and (the dogs) were feeding on leftover meat”.
Speaking to ThePrint, an official of the Animal Welfare Board of India confirmed that they had received a complaint from the Sirohi NGO.
“We will issue a letter to the District Collector, Municipal Commissioner and Director Animal Husbandry on this matter. Use of tongs is prohibited.
Meanwhile, after an inquiry headed by T. Subhamangala, CEO of the Zilla Parishad, the district administration admitted that the chief medical officer of the hospital was among those responsible for the child’s death and recommended his removal. informed of times of India,
A nursing officer has already been suspended, and a ward boy and guard have been sacked times of India The report also states that District Collector Bhanwar Lal has also sent a notice to the doctor who was on duty on the night of the infant’s death.
Meanwhile, animal activists are now accusing the district administration and the municipal corporation of sanctioning illegal mistreatment of stray dogs in the area.
‘Bones were broken, puppies died’
Chandni Khandelwal, a member of People for Street Dogs, told ThePrint that most news reports said 14-15 dogs were picked up, but the number was closer to 40-50.
“The videos that are surfacing on social media show only a few areas, but in reality 40-50 dogs were abused. Dogs have suffered serious injuries, some have broken bones and the puppies have died because they were so fragile. A large number of municipal employees were behind this process,” she alleged.
According to the Supreme Court of 2016 OrderThe concerned authorities of all states should sterilize and vaccinate street dogs, but these procedures should remain within the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Animal Birth Control Rules.
Furthermore, under sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code, it is illegal to maim or injure any animal.
Khandelwal claimed that after the child’s death on February 28, a meeting was held at the collectorate office, which was attended by Collector Bhanwar Lal, Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department Jagdish Barbad and Sirohi Nagar Parishad (City Council) executive officer Anil. Zingonia. He alleged that it was during this meeting that the officials decided to round up and release the stray dogs.
Khandelwal said that once she saw social media videos showing dogs being mistreated, she reached out to Jhingonia and other officials to inform them of the rules against the use of tongs and inquired about the whereabouts of the animals Could go, but got no answer. a response.
“I told them that we can adopt the dogs and take care of them but they didn’t care,” she said.
“I will go to Kotwali police station to file an FIR as there is no information about the whereabouts of those dogs. Some locals told us that dogs have been killed and dumped in Bari Ghat, a forest area near Sirohi. Half of them were already bleeding and injured. I told them that if the officers turn to brutality, they will be answerable to the court,” she said.
When asked about the whereabouts of the dogs, Jhingonia said he had no information as the animals were taken away by the civic body.
ThePrint also contacted Zilla Parishad CEO T. Shubmangala and District Collector Bhanwar Lal for comment on the situation, but did not receive a response at the time of publishing this report.
‘There was no need for this brutality’
Khandelwal stressed the need to implement humane methods to keep the stray dog population under control. On the dangers posed by stray dogs, he blamed hunger.
“Unfortunately, we have very few feeders in this area which causes these dogs to roam in search of food. It is their empty stomach that gets them to this point,” she said.
She insisted that the dogs are “innocent” and should not be subjected to brute force.
“These tongs should be handed over. Dogs do not understand why they are being punished. They need a friendly environment instead of such cruelty, Khandelwal said.
They now fear that the abandoned stray animals are now at risk of attack by wild animals.
“None of the dogs could have survived. There was no need for such cruelty against all the dogs in the community. This is the 21st century, we say India is reaching heights in the list of developing countries, but is it Is that the development we are looking for? It is a very cruel thing that has happened.’