Over the past nine years, the Blue Cross of India has received only six complaints of bestiality, which they have forwarded to the police for further action. However, two such cases have been reported in and around the city over the past two months alone.
Sai Vignesh
Chennai:
In the last week of February, Sai Vignesh, president, Almighty Animal Care Trust, sourced CCTV footage of one Neelakandan molesting dogs in Nandanam. After he was punished and news spread, residents in Mathur, who were suspicious of another person Baskar indulging in similar activities, having spotted him near puppies, calves and cows, called the trust helpline. Vignesh took the footage of Baskar molesting the animals to the police to seek justice.
While action was taken on the culprits under IPC Section 429, 377 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the path was not an easy one for the activist. “Like the public and myself, the inspectors were taken aback when we reported what had happened. They refused to accept it and said they had more pressing issues to tend to,” said Vignesh. Only when the matter was escalated to Joint Commissioners Mageshwari and Anand Sinha, were the arrests made.
According to Dawn Williams, residential general manager, Blue Cross India, the issue came to be recognised only after March 2010 when a police complaint was filed by Blue Cross India against a 35-year-old man who had raped a cow. “Section 377 was introduced 150 years ago, but less than 100 complaints have been filed under it,” claimed Williams. He added that the public and police have to be more sensitive towards protection of animals.
Joint Commissioner of Police, Anand Sinha said, “Inspectors would not have been familiar with bestiality. The more the frequency of issues, the more sensitive officers would become. However, when the footage was observed and the crime confirmed, arrests were made.”
Besides Almighty Animal Care Trust, the Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary, Blue Cross India and several independent activists help in collecting evidence to help such animals.