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New Indian Express
09-08-2025
- New Indian Express
Cops attend workshop on handling animal cruelty cases in Bengaluru
BENGALURU: Nearly 300 policemen attached to the Bengaluru Police Commissionerate attended a two-day workshop in the office of the City Police Commissioner on combating cruelty towards animals. The workshop was conducted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India). A similar workshop was conducted for assistant directors and veterinary officers of the animal husbandry department, Bengaluru Urban, where their roles and responsibilities in investigations of cruelty, along with laws and procedures, were discussed. The three-hour workshop's attendees included head-constables, ASIs, SIs, and police inspectors from East, West, North, South, Central, Northeast, Southeast and Central zones of the Bengaluru City Police. The session covered key provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960; the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022); the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; and other animal protection laws. A follow-up training session for local volunteers will be held on August 9 to further empower them with knowledge of legal procedures and tips on handling cases. 'The role of police and animal husbandry officials is vital in keeping animals safe. We commend the Bengaluru City Police and the Animal Husbandry Department, Bengaluru Urban, for their goal of cracking down on cruelty to animals. PETA India is pleased to support them in this effort,' PETA India's Legal Advisor and Director of Cruelty Response Meet Ashar said. 'Bengaluru taking a zero-tolerance stand on cruelty to animals will protect animals and society at large.'
Hans India
09-08-2025
- Hans India
Combating cruelty to animals: City police, animal husbandry dept invite PETA for workshops
Bengaluru: Over two days, nearly 300 police officers from Bengaluru City Police Commissionerate gathered in the Commissioner's office to attend a workshop conducted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) on combating cruelty to animals. A similar workshop was conducted for Assistant Directors and Veterinary Officers of the Animal Husbandry Department, Bengaluru Urban, where their roles and responsibilities for cruelty to animals investigations, along with laws and procedures, were discussed. The three-hour workshop's attendees included police head constables, assistant sub-inspectors, sub-inspectors, and police inspectors from east, west, north, south, central, northeast, southeast and central sones of the Bengaluru City Police. The session covered key provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960; the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022); the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; and other animal protection laws. A follow-up training session for local volunteers will be held on Saturday to further empower them with knowledge of legal procedures and tips on handling cases. 'The role of police and animal husbandry officials is vital in keeping animals safe. We commend Bengaluru City Police and the Animal Husbandry Department, Bengaluru Urban, for their goal of cracking down on cruelty to animals. PETA India is pleased to support them in this effort,' says Meet Ashar, PETA India's Legal Advisor and Director of Cruelty Response. 'Bengaluru taking a sero-tolerance stand on cruelty to animals will protect animals and society at large.' In 2021, the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations released a report revealing that nearly 500,000 animals had been victims of crimes in the decade prior. PETA India notes that many violent criminals have a documented history of cruelty to animals. A study published in Forensic Research and Criminology International Journal warns, 'Those who engage in cruelty to animals were [three] times more likely to commit other crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, assault, harassment, threats, and drug/substance abuse.' This important initiative was made possible under the visionary leadership of Sowmya Reddy, General Secretary of All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) and Former Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly; Seemanth Kumar Singh, IPS, Commissioner of the Bengaluru City Police; B Dayanand, IPS, former Commissioner of the Bengaluru City Police who is now posted as the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Prisons; Raja Imam Kasim P, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime-II), Bengaluru City Police and Dr. P Srinivasu, Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. This initiative is part of PETA India's ongoing efforts to sensitise law enforcement personnel and empower animal rights activists across India to ensure that crimes against animals are addressed with the seriousness they deserve. Similar sensitisation workshops have previously been conducted for Border Security Force officials all over India between October 2024- July this year.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Time of India
33 illegal pigeon racing events, kabutarbaazi stopped across Punjab, Haryana & Chandigarh
Mohali: In a major crackdown on illegal animal sport, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has successfully intervened to halt 33 unlawful pigeon racing or 'kabutarbaazi' events across 20 districts in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh over the past two months. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Three such events were stopped in Mohali villages, one in Raipur Khurd (Chandigarh), and 28 across Punjab, including Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, and Sangrur, where the most recent raids were conducted this week. The operations were carried out in coordination with senior police officials in all three jurisdictions. PETA India had filed complaints citing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, both of which prohibit activities that inflict unnecessary suffering on animals. They also referenced a 2020 advisory from the Animal Welfare Board of India that declared such races illegal, equating them to animal fights under the law. "Pigeons feel pain and fear just like humans. Using them in races is not only cruel but also unlawful," said Meet Ashar, PETA India's Legal Advisor and Director of Cruelty Response. He praised Punjab ADGP (Traffic) Amardeep Singh Rai and the Chandigarh and Haryana Police for their prompt action and urged continued vigilance to prevent further such events. PETA also highlighted the harsh conditions the birds endure — often caged in filthy spaces, force-fed drugs like opium, and made to fly until exhaustion. Betting, a criminal offence under the Public Gambling Act of 1867, is often associated with these races. PETA has urged citizens to report any upcoming pigeon races or similar events to local authorities and support enforcement efforts by providing evidence such as videos, posters, or social media links.
