Wembley Estate RWA booked for beating stray dog
A 40-year-old woman of Wembley Estate in Sector 50 complained to the police that a group of security guards of the gated community assaulted a stray dog and scared it away from the locality.
A 40-year-old woman of Wembley Estate in Sector 50 complained to the police that a group of security guards of the gated community assaulted a stray dog and scared it away from the locality.
The woman submitted a video footage of the incident, which took place on Tuesday, based on which the police registered an FIR on Friday. The RWA members of Wembley Estate have been booked under IPC 429 (mischief by killing or maiming animal) and section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
“The police received a complaint on Tuesday afternoon after which officials were sent to investigate the matter. After going through the evidence, a FIR was filed on Friday evening,” said Vijay Kumar, SHO, Sadar police station.
According to complainant Meenakshi Rajagopalan, she was on her way to the market when she heard a dog yelping. “I first thought the dog was barking at monkeys. But I saw security guards circling a white coloured dog and beating her,” she said.
“The dog was tethered to a small rope. Six security guards had cornered her. When I started shouting, they let go of the dog that ran behind a bush. The guards said they had done so at the instance of the residents’ welfare association (RWA),” Meenakshi claimed.
Soon, a few residents and RWA members reached the spot and said the dogs were creating a nuisance. She said she tried to explain that cruelty against animals is a punishable offence but they did not listen. .
“I went to the police station and registered a complaint,” she said.
The SHO said, “I sent two officials to look into the matter. After an initial probe, the FIR was lodged.”
RWA president Rajeev Gupta, said that it is the estate management’s decision to chase away the dog, while the estate manger claimed that he was merely following RWA guidelines.
Gupta said, “How can we allow stray dogs to enter the society? She (Meenakshi) is just creating an issue out of nothing. Also, the RWA has nothing to do with this. It is the decision of the condominium management.”
Estate manager Naveen Kaushik said, “We are simply following the security guidelines laid down by the RWA.”
Animal lovers and experts said no dog can be relocated from its place of birth or territory. They said that if dogs are violent, residents can complain to the local municipal body or an NGO recognised by the animal welfare board of India (AWBI).
Cruelty against animals is a punishable offence. No one can just throw dogs out of their territory. This creates a problem for the dog,” said Amritika Phool, co-opted member, AWBI.
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