CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND NGO'S IN INDIA

This is with regard to the Raid and seizure of birds on Tuesday25th August 2009 in Vadodara, India, At the residence of Mr.Anwar. The raid was conducted on behest of one Ms. Snehal Bhansal, who runs an NGO in that area.

Sequence of events:-

Anwar is into breeding of several species of Exotic birds at his residence for last 20+ years. The birds in his possession are not covered under Wildlife protection act of 1972 and hence no permission is required to breed and trade in same.

Early April 2009 Snehal Bhansal and other activist visited the residence of Anwar and had an long argument and fight with Anwar with respect to his collection of birds. The argument went into a fight with the activist abusing Anwar. Forest department was called in. But the forest department couldnt find any illegal birds at his premises and hence the case was closed. However Snehal was not happy with the action and the fight continued which led to a case filed against her by Anwar and the same is pending in the court. Snehal swore to make Anwars life miserable.

For 4 months Snehal had been planning but realized there is nothing much she could do on her own and then she started to use her influence which goes till higher up in Govt. She managed to convince them that she could make sure that if action is taken against Anwar it would bring nationwide publicity to the departments. The forest department however refused to interfere as according to them everything was legal at Anwars place. But the police department was more than happy to pursue the matter.

On Tuesday 25th August 2009 Snehal along with senior police department officials once again raided the premises of Anwar and the story this time was complains of noise/air pollution from his neighbors. Snehal faced Anwar and told him lets now watch the fun. The police summoned Forest department and they forced them to seize the birds and take the same into their custody.

The birds caught by inexperienced people and dumped into small cages. Few of the birds escaped from the hands of the police. The cages were then shifted into a small tarpaulin covered lorry and shifted to the premises of the forest department. The Baroda Zoo refused to take custody of the birds. The lorry has since being parked in the hot sun, rain and wind at the forest office for last5 DAYS!!! Most likely the lorry will be shifted today once this article is leaked out or printed.

Attached are few pics to show how the birds were kept at Mr.Anwars place and How they are currently kept in the lorry. The main intention of Snehal and department is that the birds die so that they need not be handed over to the Anwar. And hence they are kept in most unhygienic condition without any light, proper food and water. The lorry is hot and stinking inside.
Who is answerable to this??? The man who kept the legal birds with love and care in proper cages inside the house or the influential NGO and the friends who got it seized and put them this way till date???

The accused was booked under the Prevention of cruelty to Animals Act, the birds that were enjoying a decent life in Anwars house are now LYING IN A CLOSED LORRY WITHOUT PROPER FOOD,WATER AND CARE SINCE THE PAST 5 DAYS!!!! Several of the birds have already become sick and died. is this not real Cruelty done by the officials and the NGO activists involved, should we not book them all and take them to court.

It is better that the birds are returned to the rightful owner until a decision is taken by the court. Which in all means will be in the favor of Anwar the so called accussed. The DCB and the NGO activists will be ashamed when the court puts its verdict out.

The law clearly states none have the right to seize birds or animals that do not come under the purview of the WPA (India) 1952. The police have no right either and they are not trained to do a job at the behest of some influential people.

Residents and citizens are gathering momentum to take this case higher to bring to notice the wrong doings of the NGO activist Snehal and the DCB officials creating a bad name for the bird keeper and disturbing and killing birds that were doing good but now dying for no reason in the custody of the DCB officials and others involved.