Animal lovers protest brutal dog killings

Mar 31, 2007, 16:38 GMT

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) Hundreds of animal lovers from the four metropolitan cities Saturday took to the streets demanding prosecution of the municipal corporation officers responsible for the alleged brutal killing of stray dogs in Karnataka, in violation of all laws.

The protestors, who held rallies in New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai simultaneously, also decided to boycott the purchase of all products from Karnataka.

'We have decided to boycott the purchase of all goods from Karnataka, including coffee, denim, silk and sandalwood products to protest the terrible brutalities committed against these defenceless creatures,' one of the activists Sonia Singh said in New Delhi.

The protestors vowed that they would take necessary action at every level to ensure prosecution of the municipal authorities responsible for the gruesome acts in the state.

Animal lovers from the four cities are also planning to actively participate in corrective, successful and humane measures to control the population of stray dogs in Indian cities.

'We would supervise programmes carried out by the government and non-government organisations (NGOs) so that dog population control programmes bear successful results,' Singh added.

One of the activists, Sharat Pandey, said: 'We are also protesting the trading in meat and skin of dogs in Karnataka. There should be an open, judicial enquiry to prosecute the culprits.'

Existing laws, under which cruelty to animals in any form is a punishable offence, state that killing and maiming of animals is punishable with imprisonment, which may extend to five years and a fine or both.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service