Four people were arrested for organising and participating in a horse-cart race on EEH in Mulund, on Sunday morning. Navghar police also suspect the accused were involved in taking bets
Four people were arrested for organising and participating in a horse-cart race on the Eastern Express Highway near Navghar, in Mulund, on Sunday morning. Navghar police also suspect the accused were involved in taking bets.
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Cops inspect the horse carts they recovered from the accused. Pics/Rajesh Gupta
Police officials said a total of five horse carts were part of the racing event, with each cart comprising a driver and his aide. The arrested accused were identified as cart drivers Rasal Jacinto (35), Ronnie Perreira (27), and their aides William Jacinto (21) and Brendon Pisso (20), respectively.
Brendon Pisso and Ronnie Perreira
Horse before cart
An officer from Navghar police station said, “We had been tipped off about an illegal horse-cart race being organised in our jurisdiction, following which we laid a trap to nab the culprits. The race was to start on the EEH from Morya Lake, in Mulund (East), to Ghatkopar Junction.”
Rasal Jacinto
He added that the race commenced around 6 am, and had attracted a crowd about 50, which was busy recording the event on their mobile phones. “We are still verifying whether those present at the race were there to bet or were mere spectators, as everyone was notified via phone calls,” the officer said.
The police officer added that by the time the cops’ team reached the spot, the race had already begun. It was after a long chase that the police managed to nab the quartet from near the Airoli junction. Other officials claimed that those arrested had been participating in such events for the last 18 months, and would change venues to evade being caught.
All four were booked under Section 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animal) of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 1 (A) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.