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Time of India
25-06-2025
- Time of India
Horse owner fined for cruelty and negligence
Kolkata: The owner of a horse used for joyrides in the Maidan, who pleaded guilty to negligent conduct and cruelty towards the animal before a judicial magistrate, was let off with a fine of Rs 500 due to his economic distress. An FIR in the case had been filed by animal rights organisation Cape Foundation. The sections — 291/62/3(5) of BNS and 3/11(1)(a)(h) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 — under which the accused, Sk Alamgir was charged are punishable with imprisonment or a fine or both. However, after Alamgir filed a petition pleading guilty, the advocate representing him submitted a request to consider the amount of fine imposed, given his economic distress. Taking the plea into consideration, the magistrate fined Alamgir Rs 500. In 2024, at least eight horses were reported dead in Kolkata due to similar abuse and neglect, according to Peta India and the CAPE Foundation. The Calcutta HC had directed the state to develop a proposal for rehabilitating horse owners and providing them with an alternative livelihood. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Time of India
FIR after sick mare found tied up without food, water
1 2 Kolkata: An FIR was registered after Peta India rescued a horse from Maidan with assistance from cops last Monday. The mare, blind in one eye and whose physical condition indicated prolonged neglect by her former owner, was found tied up with no access to food or water. Veterinarians said she was emaciated and suffering from painful chronic osteoarthritis. The mare was later transferred to a sanctuary. The FIR was registered on June 2 under sections on negligent conduct regarding the animal, which poses a probable danger to human life or any potential threat of grievous harm, and for causing grievous hurt by maiming the animal. This case also invokes multiple sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, including neglecting the duty of care, for unreasonably tethering the animal, and for failing to provide adequate food, water, and shelter. Moreover, Section 3(5) of the BNS was invoked for committing crimes in furtherance of common intention. "This rescue is not an isolated case; it's a reflection of the ongoing cruelty that horses face daily on Kolkata's roads, hauling tourist carriages and when abandoned in the Maidan area. We urge CM Mamata Banerjee to take decisive action to retire all horses used to pull carriages, and introduce heritage-style electric carriages," said Peta India advocacy associate Chumki Dutta. In recent months, Peta India has filed two FIRs — at Bhowanipore and Maidan — following two incidents of cruelty to horses. The first one was registered after a video surfaced on social media showing one of two horses hitched to a carriage collapsing on the road. The second concerned the death of a mare found abandoned and recumbent. In 2024, at least eight horses were reported dead in Kolkata due to similar abuse and neglect, according to data gathered by Peta India and the CAPE Foundation. Investigations reveal that many horses used in the city are anaemic, malnourished, overworked, and suffer from painful conditions caused by constant use of hard road surfaces. The Calcutta HC had directed the state to develop a proposal for rehabilitating horse owners and providing them with an alternative livelihood. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Time of India
FIR after FB video shows horse, hitched to carriage, collapsing on road
Kolkata: A first information report (FIR) was registered at Bhowanipore police station after a disturbing video surfaced on social media showing one of two horses hitched to a carriage collapse on the road. DC (south) Priyobrata Roy said the case, drawn up on Thursday, took the evidence from Facebook as the main lead. "Prima facie, we found substance in the allegation that not only was the horse being harshly treated, but it was also an act that could endanger the common man using the road. We have collected CCTV footage and contacted Maidan and Hastings police to identify the owner," an officer said. In 2024, at least eight horses died in Kolkata, as evidenced by information documented by Peta India and the CAPE Foundation. Through various investigations, dozens of horses in the city were found to be anaemic, malnourished, chronically starved, and often with serious health conditions such as broken bones. The horse seen in the video was emaciated and appeared to be suffering from heat stroke and dehydration. The handler can be seen shouting at the animal to haul the carriage again. The other horse is still harnessed to the carriage. The video was originally uploaded on April 21, 2025, by a Facebook user, highlighting concerns about the welfare of the horses during Kolkata's intense summer heat. The horse's condition — thin, severely dehydrated, and visibly distressed — was confirmed by an equine veterinary expert, who assessed the body score as 1.5 out of 5, and noted signs of tremendous stress and pain. Peta India has called for immediate intervention by authorities to find, rescue, and rehabilitate the injured horse, and to ensure the prosecution of those responsible for the abuse under relevant laws. The FIR was registered under section 125 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for negligent conduct with an animal posing probable danger to human life and under sections 325 read with 62 of BNS for attempting to maim and cause permanent harm to the animal. The case also invokes multiple sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, including section 3 for failing in the duty of care, section 11(1)(a) for overworking and inflicting unnecessary suffering, section 11(1)(f) for unreasonably tethering the animal, and section 11(1)(h) for failure to provide adequate food, water, and shelter. Additionally, section 3(5) of BNS was invoked for committing crimes in furtherance of common intention. "The animal needs urgent relocation to a sanctuary where it can receive immediate medical care and be spared further trauma. This shocking footage is yet another example of the cruelty and neglect routinely faced by horses used for rides in Kolkata. The animals are forced to work in extreme temperatures on hard roads, often without adequate food, water, or rest — and this case proves just how dangerous and inhumane these conditions are. It's time for Kolkata to follow Mumbai's example and replace these archaic carriages with electric alternatives," said Peta India representative Chumki Dutta. The Calcutta High Court took serious note of incidents in which horses collapsed at the Maidan and elsewhere in Kolkata due to poor health. The court also noted other issues, such as the wide-scale prevalence of unlicenced hackney carriages in the city and the high rate of abandonment of ailing and unfit horses by their owners. The court directed the state govt to develop a proposal for rehabilitating horse owners and providing them with an alternative livelihood to hauling tourists in carriages so that "dispensing with the horse-drawn carriages as done in Mumbai can be considered and examined for its feasibility".
