Minutes after horses’ death, cops knew about it; no case even now

Saturday , Jun 20, 2009

Mumbai: Five days after two horses — which were allegedly used in an illegal horse racing racket — fell off the Andheri flyover in broad daylight and plunged to death, it has emerged that the police knew about the accident at the time it occurred on Sunday. This was exposed when Newsline accessed the log book of BMC’s disaster management cell that had received a call from the police control room about the animal deaths at 3 pm on Sunday. However, no police report has been filed so far on the illegal horse race and the horses’ death. The police have not initiated any inquiry into the incident too.

According to personnel of the BMC’s disaster management cell, it was the police control room that informed the BMC about the death of two horses. As pet the cell’s log book, it has got a call from the main police control room at 3 pm on Sunday stating that two horses had fallen off the flyover bridge on the Western Express Highway, near Centaur Hotel, Vile Parle East. The log book also says that the disaster management cell have contacted the Bombay SPCA Hospital at 3.04 pm and informed them about the incident. However, the police control room refused to confirm this.
About Pics : Horses roam the plot behind Hotel Leela

On Tuesday, after a series of investigations, Newsline along with a representative of the Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), visited a site behind Hotel Leela Kempinski in Sahar Road, Andheri, which is suspected to be the area where the alleged owner of the horses lives.

On Friday, PAWS made another visit to the area and found that seven horses were still there in a makeshift stable. On Wednesday, PAWS sent formal complaints, photographic evidence and the name of the alleged owner, to the Andheri Police station, the Sahar Police Station and the commissioner of police, seeking action against the owner for letting horses take part in illegal races on the streets of Mumbai. The complaints stated that using animals for public performance without permission is illegal as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960) and the Performing Animal Rules (1973 and 2001). An action can be initiated as per the Indian Penal Code (1860) and Bombay Police Act (1951) too, it stated.

When contacted, the Senior Police Inspector of Sahar Dilip Patil said, “It is not an important matter that needs urgent intervention. However, we will see what can be done as soon as possible.”

However, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nisar Tamboli, who said he was unaware about the death of two horses or an illegal racing network in the zone, said, “If a complaint is filed, I will look into the matter immediately and inform the police stations to take action.”