A man was arrested on the charge of cruelty to animals for dragging a dog to death using his motorcycle on Sunday. A video of the shocking and disturbing incident went viral on social media and drew the attention of animal rights and prompted the concerned authorities to take immediate actions.
The arrested person has been identified as one 47-year-old Motilal Thiyam, son of late Thiyam Chaoba of Lairikyengbam Makha Leikai, Imphal East, Manipur.
Speaking to the Imphal Free Press, Yening Animal Foundation (YAF) chairperson Sapna Laishram said the video was shared on Facebook by a user and it went viral. She said, on seeing the video one member of YAF immediately rushed to the spot and investigated the incident without disclosing his identity.
A local from Nagaram block B area informed the YAF member that he witnessed the incident and asked the YAF member if he was looking to buy dog meat. The animal foundation member and the local went to the spot where the dog was slaughtered, she said.
On verifying the incident, Lamphel police station was immediately informed about it and YAF along with a team of police personnel arrested Motilal, who dragged the dog, and the man who bought the dog.
Sapna further said after another recent incident in which a dog was killed, she submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren Singh on July 5 to introduce an Act on prevention of cruelty to animals, especially to dogs. Later, she sent a reminder of the memorandum copy to the chief minister in August. However, no response has been received from the government regarding the memorandum till date, she added.
The YAF chairperson urged the chief minister to take severe action against the culprit involved in the killing of the dog so as to prevent cruelty to animals and that no similar incident takes place in the future.
In an earlier press conference held in Imphal, Sapna mentioned that a public interest litigation (PIL) will be filed to prevent cruelty to dogs and animals.
Meanwhile, police reported that Motilal bought the dog from one of his uncles and it was sold to one Yusem Munao, 35, son of Wilson Munao of Nagaram, Imphal East at Rs 6,000. The dog meat along with utensils used during the incident have been seized. The motorcycle bearing registration number MN06SB 0020 that was used for dragging the dog has also been seized, the police said.
A case has been registered at Lamphel police station under FIR number 104(8)2020 LPS U/S 188/428/429/34-IPC and Section 11 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 for further necessary legal action against the offenders.
It may be noted that although it is a common practice to keep dogs as pets in many of the households in the Northeast India region to guard over the house or for the love of pets, dog meat is consumed by the people in the region and is considered a non-vegetarian delicacy by some in many parts of the Northeastern states. However, as most people prefer to keep them as pets, dog meat is not openly sold. Which is why, killing of dog for consumption is rare. Dog meat is hard to find and is sold at exorbitant price. And, thanks to the growing awareness among the people on animal rights, the number of animal rights and related organisations is increasing in the state by the year. People are becoming more conscious against cruelty to animals
