CHENNAI: The law and enforcement seem to vary from case-to-case depending on social media campaign and media trial. Remember the poisoning of eight stray dogs to death at Mugalivakkam in May this year? No arrest or breakthrough could be made in the case. The act was allegedly committed by some ‘insensitive’ locals. “I am happy that something has been done by police on Bhadra (the dog that was flung from roof top) case. But they have ignored the atrocious dog deaths,” said animal lover S. Jahnavi, who sheltered the stray dogs.
“It is unfortunate that the police are sensitized only to online social media campaigns.So many dogs have been killed in the past, which was reported by animal welfare organizations like SPCA and Blue Cross. Such knee-jerk reaction was not noticed,” said a life member of Madras SPCA. Timely action of police could have thwarted cases of dogs being cruelly culled,” he said.
Lack of coordination between local police station and Madras Veterinary College hospital resulted in delay in justice to the canines. The blame game never ends. “The reports are ready. The police are yet to collect it,” said a professor from Pathology department. According to the Mangadu police official concerned, police had paid many visits to the hospital, which went in vain.
The professor refused to disclose information regarding the reports although he said the bodies were in ‘decomposed’ state. “Clues can be obtained through forensic investigation,” he said. The fact that the enquiry, which is already stalled for two months, can be raced up only after the exhaustive procedure, grieves Jahnavi. “Innumerable calls to the police were answered with rude replies. Looks like we should be highly influenced to seek justice,” said a distressed animal lover.
“From filing an FIR at Mangadu police station to petitioning the CM special cell, I followed all legal formalities a month ago. But a setback in the enquiry is disheartening. I wish I had a Facebook account to spread dog deaths,” said Jahnavi.
