The People For Animals Public Policy Foundation has written to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar terming the recent shooting down of 28 dogs in Begusarai district as “shameful”, in violation of law, and an “utter disgrace” as it sought action against the public officials involved in it.
The organisation has also blamed the state government for not taking steps to implement the animal birth control programme in each district to manage the population of street dogs.
Gauri Maulekhi, a trustee of Delhi-based People for Animals, and a member of the animal birth control monitoring and implementation committee formed by the Bihar government, in her letter to Nitish, asserted that the root cause of feral dogs depending on scavenging dead cattle was the improper disposal of their carcasses.
“In failing to scientifically and effectively manage the street dog population… the state has failed to protect the public as well as the environment and welfare of animals. Instead of addressing these pressing issues in a legal, scientific and civilised manner, the state has resorted to shameful and violent acts of killing,” Maulekhi wrote in her missive.
She pointed out that the Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasised on the need to conduct the animal birth control programme in accordance with the animal birth control (dogs) rules, 2001, and in accordance with the revised module for street dog population management, rabies eradication and reducing man-dog conflict.
The apex court also directed the formulation of state animal birth control monitoring and implementation committees.
The People for Animals trustee wrote that the Animal Welfare Board of India under the ministry of animal husbandry, fisheries and dairying, issued guidelines on November 29 last year on dealing with ferocious or aggressive dogs and complaints of dog bites.
These are in accordance with the laws related to animals.
“Initiate disciplinary action and prosecution against the district authorities involved in the gross violation of Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 428 (mischief by killing or maiming animals of the value of Rs 10) and 429 (mischief by killing or maiming animals of the values of Rs 50) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960,” she demanded in the letter written on January 5.
She also sought directions from the state government for the implementation of animal birth control programmes in all districts in Bihar.
“Bihar is the land of monasteries, a state rooted in cultures of peace and ahimsa (non-violence) from ancient times. The heinous act of shooting street dogs to death, instead of undertaking its lawful, social and moral responsibility to ensure scientific management is an utter disgrace to the state. Your immediate intervention is crucial to correct these wrongful actions and prevent any such violation in future,” Maulekhi wrote.
Maulekhi’s letter to the chief minister comes in the backdrop of Begusarai district administration calling in shooters empanelled with the state environment and forest department and gunning down 28 dogs in Bachhwara and Bhagwanpur blocks on December 23 and January 4.
Packs of dogs living in the “chaur” or “taal” area (low or riverine land that easily get waterlogged during floods and rainy season and is full of grass and shrubs) in the two blocks have become “man-eaters” and have started hunting human beings for food.
They have killed at least nine women and seriously injured at least 40 people in the past couple of months. Their terror has been keeping people away from agricultural farms.
“These dogs apparently used to feast on dead cattle thrown there by the villagers. It seems they faced some scarcity of carcasses and started targeting people. They have mostly targeted women because they are weak and easy prey,”
Teghra sub-divisional officer Rakesh Kumar told The Telegraph. Bachhwara and Bhagwanpur blocks come under his jurisdiction.
