Shaktiman, the horse, was wounded during a BJP protest
Highlights
- Shaktiman, a police horse, was wounded during a BJP protest in Dehradun
- Horse fell after its rider, a policeman, was dragged down by a BJP worker
- BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi and another BJP worker arrested for animal cruelty
Star batsman Virat Kohli tweeted today that he "shocked and disgusted" by the attack on Shaktiman, the police horse which has lost its leg after being beaten during a BJP protest on Monday.
BJP lawmaker Ganesh Joshi and another party worker have been arrested for animal cruelty.
The ace cricketer, who has over nine million followers on Twitter, posted the tweets a day before team India's epic T20 clash with Pakistan in Kolkata tomorrow.
An outpouring of support and sympathy has been seen for Shaktiman in the four days since it was seen in visuals on TV dragging a mangled and bloodied hind leg at the protest at Uttarakhand's Dehradun.
Last night, after its leg was amputated, the hashtag #prayforShaktiman started trending.
The 14-year-old horse fell after its rider, a policeman, was dragged down by a BJP worker who pulled at its reins.
The horse stood on a prosthetic limb last night after an emergency amputation which doctors said was essential to save his life.
Shaktiman as been a part of police ceremonial parades since it was a three-year-old colt. Doctors say it may never walk or run like before. Some activists suggest it may be more humane not to prolong its pain.