Bhayandar housing society members booked for harassing stray dogs, feeders

Sandhya Mehta, the complainant, with Sheru

Four committee members of a housing society have been booked by Bhayandar police for allegedly torturing and harassing a stray dog living in the society and a resident who fed the canine. The complainant, Sandhya Mehta, alleged that other residents of the building would hit or instigate the strays, threw their feeding bowls, and even levied fine from her for feeding them.

The FIR filed on February 8 has charged the four accused - Rajendra Jain (secretary), Himanshu Shah, Arvind Patel and Tejas Mehta (treasurer) - under sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 429 (mischief by killing animal), 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code and section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Long fight for justice

Mehta, a resident of Badrinath Cooperative Housing Society in Bhayandar, said she had been trying to get the police to register a complaint in the case since May 2021. She said, "I have been taking care of Sheru, one of the strays, since 2016. He was caged in a small area without proper ventilation and light. As a result, he has suffered depression and neurological issues. The society residents have harmed him on many occasions. I have faced constant threats and harassment even though I own three flats here. They say that he bites, but do not have proof to substantiate their claims."

The managing committee of Badrinath Cooperative Housing Society in Bhayandar was charging animal lovers for feeding strays

Sheru's prescription from Dr Rajesh R Rohi stated that he lost weight over the past four months and the shoulder injury and wounds on tail and other parts of body are suspected to be the result of being hit by a blunt object.

Activist roped in

After failing to get anywhere with her complaints, Mehta approached animal activist Sunish Subramanian Kunju, formerly an officer of Animal Welfare Board of India and Plant and Animals Welfare Society-Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai). Kunju's efforts to follow-up with the police and Animal Husbandry Department and filing of a RTI in December last year about the action taken on Mehta's complaint, led to a police warning being issued to the society towards the end of January this year.

Kunju said, "Not only have they done animal cruelty but the society members are also misusing their power as the managing committee started harassing animal lovers by illegally charging Rs 2,200 penalty per month, with a late fee of Rs 25, for ‘feeding animals leading to an unclean environment'. We will also take this complaint to the society of registrar and get these committee members removed."

CopSpeak

Senior PI of Bhayandar police station Mugutrao Patil said he had no idea about the details of the case while Assistant Commissioner Shantilal Jadhav said, "The investigation is ongoing, so I cannot divulge more details." In the RTI response to Kunju, cops have stated, "We are closely coordinating this matter with the district animal husbandry department. Further investigation in this case is on. Himanshu Shah (named as an accused) was issued a warning letter."