Finally, police begin investigation into horses’ death at flyover

Sunday , Jun 21, 2009
Mumbai:
Finally, Andheri police have started looking into the case of the two horses that plunged off the Andheri flyover last Sunday. Police are conducting preliminary inquiries, following which a decision will be taken whether to register an offence.

“I have initiated an inquiry and have asked the information officer to report to me within two days. On Monday, we will look at what stage inquiries have reached and decide whether an FIR should be filed,” Shivaji Deshmukh, Senior Police Inspector of Andheri police station said on Saturday.

The police said they were also taking cognisance of Newsline’s visit to the address on Sahar Road, suspected to be the house of the owner of the dead horses. Last Tuesday, Newsline, along with a representative of PAWS, had visited Dharam Sai Nagar, Anna Wadi, the plot near Hotel Leela Kempenski where the alleged owner lives.

About Pics : The carriage at Andheri police station

Seven horses were spotted on the plot, which, according to local residents, belong to the same person. Some residents claimed that one of the dead horses was buried at the plot.

Subsequently, Sunish Subramanian of PAWS had sent written complaints to the Andheri and Sahar Police pleading immediate action.

People who saw the horses fall off the flyover had said that the two horses were part of a group of 10 to 12 horse-drawn carriages that were racing on the Andheri flyover. One carriage broke away flinging the two animals down the flyover, they said.

Andheri police had said the horses had disappeared by the time they reached the spot. It was later discovered by Newsline that the BMC’s disaster management cell had received a call from the police control room at 3 pm informing them about the accident. The BMC cell then informed the Bombay SPCA hospital. While the SPCA ambulance picked up one horse that was still alive for treatment on Sunday evening, the second horse is believed to have died on the spot. It is not known who had taken the horse and where.

Police sub-inspector A A Sonawane, the investigating officer in the case said, “We have started making inquiries based on the complaint filed by PAWS. We have also visited the alleged owner’s house. Neighbours claim the family has left town. We’ll interrogate the family, as soon as they return.”

The police also have in their possession the carriage the horses were pulling when the accident occurred. Sunish Subramanian, secretary of PAWS, who took a close look at the carriage said, “It looks like the left tyre came off, causing the carriage to tilt. This put pressure on the horses’ harness causing it to break and the animals were flung off.”