Mumbai News: Animal Activists To Move Court Against Police For Not Registering FIR After 40 Dogs Go Missing; AWBI Orders Action Against NESCO

Mumbai: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) asked the state animal welfare board to take action against NESCO Exhibition Centre, located in Goregaon (E), after animal activists alleged that around 40 stray dogs mysteriously went missing from its premises.

The Free Press Journal reported on April 30 that the Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Foundation had written to the Mumbai Police commissioner and AWBI alleging that over 40 dogs went missing from the premises of NESCO Centre just before the feeding zones were designated inside the campus. The activists alleged that the dogs have been illegally relocated by NESCO authorities.

While animal activists from across the country have been voicing their concerns on social media regarding this incident, AWBI also intervened in the matter and asked the member secretary of Maharashtra Animal Welfare Board to take appropriate action in the matter as per animal welfare laws.

In its letter dated May 8, the government body cited sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Animal Birth Control Tules, 2023, which make cruelty to animals and their relocation punishable offences.

While the letter was also marked to the Commissioner of Police, the animal rights activists are accusing the police of not registering an offence against the NESCO authorities for the alleged relocation. Animal activists are demanding Vanrai police register a first information report in this case and investigate the mystery of the missing dogs.

Talking to The Free Press Journal, Ayush Munot, a businessman and an animal feeder who complained about the relocation of dogs, said, “NESCO has relocated more than 50% of the dogs. They have hired an agency and its workers come in the middle of the night to take away the dogs. The police have taken my statement but are yet to register an FIR.”

The animal activists have accused the police of inaction in this matter as they claim that they have reached out to the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) as well as the additional commissioner of police (Add. CP) to direct Vanrai Police to file an FIR. The activists are now preparing to move the court against the police officials for not registering an offence in this matter.

Roshan Pathak, animal rights advisor with PAL Foundation, said, “For such a small animal relocation case, we have already requested the intervention of senior officials. We had also written to the chief minister, who directed it back to the police commissioner but there is no progress. We are now planning to file a petition in the court against this inaction.”

The Free Press Journal contacted the additional commissioner of police (northern region) Abhishek Trimukhe who asked to contact the deputy commissioner of police (Zone-12) Smita Patil, who did not respond to the calls and messages.

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