Alleged Stray Dogs Killings Spark Showdown In Kolkata

Kolkata: Policemen are keeping the cool in a residential complex in Kolkata's Behala area where anger has shot up in recent days over reports of 15 stray dogs allegedly being killed.

Residents are divided on the issue. While two residents in the complex allege that more than a dozen dogs have been treated cruelly and killed, members of the housing society say nothing of the sort has taken place.

But Monisha Bhowmick and Gopa Ganguly claim at least 15 of dogs were killed in Diamond City housing complex over a period of time at the behest of a section of the society in spite of pleas to spare them after vaccination and sterilization. And they say they have pictures to prove it.

Society members however deny the allegations and say pictures circulated by the two residents are fake.

"We are branded as murderers. I want to put it on record that nothing like that has happened. These stray dogs were taken away by the KMC (Kolkata Municipal Corporation) authorities in a very proper manner. We have enough documentation as proof which we have provided to local administration," said Deepak Agarwal, the President of the Diamond City Residents Association.
 But Monisha Bhowmick counters him, saying, "The President and Secretary circulated some emails that KMC has taken away a few dogs. Fourteen at least I assure you. I believe they have been killed because of the way they were strangled. I am sure they are no longer with us."

Advertisement

The incident snowballed into a full blown row after the reports spread. Actor and Trinamool legislator Debosree Roy reached the spot along with her members of her animal rights group.

"I had been getting complaints for a long time but this has reached an extreme situation. This is why my foundation members got involved and other animal lovers have also joined us. I have requested the police to ensure that those behind this are punished," she said.

Advertisement

Both sides have filed police complaints against each other and have traded charges of assault.

For now the police say they are investigating the case. Some experts who have seen photos of the incident however say the dog-catching exercise was completely unprofessional.

Advertisement

"This is not how professionals handle dogs which are being taken for sterilization. These people don't look trained," said Sushmita Roy, who runs a shelter called Love and Care for Animals.