Six cats and a dog, which a family kept confined in cages inside their empty flat in Netajinagar on the city’s southern fringes, were charred to death after a portion of the apartment caught fire early on Sunday.
Two cats were found in an unconscious state and were revived, police said.
The police said they have started a case under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and under the Indian Penal Code against “unknown persons”, based on a complaint lodged by a neighbour.
The owners of the flat where the fire broke out and neighbours will be questioned, police said.
The Telegraph could not contact the owners of the flat.
A resident of the building — 35B Naktala Road — said they spotted the fire around 2.30am and alerted the fire department.
Two fire tenders from the nearest fire station in Tollygunge went to the spot to douse the flames.
“The firefighters had to break open the door of the flat to enter and douse the flames. Otherwise, the fire would have spread to other parts of the building,” said Ajay Kumar Shaw, a resident on the fourth floor of the building.
Shaw said the family that owned the two-bedroom flat did not live there. “They or their driver used to visit the apartment twice a day to feed the animals,” said Shaw.
Another resident of the neighbourhood who did not wish to be named said the family did not take proper care of the animals.
“We had asked them why they had confined the animals in cages. They would say that whatever they were doing was in accordance with the laws on animal rights,” she said.
Another neighbour said pets had been kept in the flat for “several years”.
Firefighters who went to the spot brought out cages with carcasses inside them.
“Two cats were still alive. An animal lovers’ organisation took their custody and gave them first aid. The others had died,” said an officer at Netaji Nagar police station.
Animal rights activists from Pashupati Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said keeping pets in confinement for prolonged periods is an offence that attracts penal clauses.
“It is an offence to keep pets in confinement for prolonged periods. It is punishable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. There are sections in the Indian Penal Code, too, to address such cruelties against animals,” said Prasenjit Dutta, a member of PAWS.
Dutta said sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with the offence of causing injury to animals, are applicable to this case.
The deputy commissioner of the south suburban division, Surya Pratap Yadav, said: “Investigation is in progress.”
A forensic team inspected the flat on Sunday morning to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Police sources said neighbours have told investigating officers that the family would light incense sticks to keep away the stench of the animals’ excreta.
“An incense stick might have caused the fire. The actual reason can be ascertained only after the forensic report comes,” said an officer of the police station.