Navi Mumbai: Animal rights activists reacted with shock and surprise as the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) lodged an FIR against 2 women feeders who questioned the civic staff on why they were taking away healthy, sterilised stray dogs from Ghansoli bus depot on Friday.The FIR was filed at the behest of NMMC veterinary head, S Todkar, who alleged that the 2 feeders stopped govt officials from doing their duty and also abused and threatened them.However, the feeders denied using threats or abusive language, and said that they only asked the civic staff why and where they were taking the indie strays from Ghansoli bus depot. The Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Foundation condemned the action taken against the feeders, and said that they will legally support them in this matter.“The 2 animal lovers in Ghansoli merely asked the NMMC officials why they were picking up vaccinated and sterilised dogs from the bus depot, and where they would keep them. The veterinary officer, Todkar, somehow got angry at the women and asked the Rabale police to lodge an FIR against them under serious BNS sections like 35(3), 132, 352, 351, 329 and 3(5). This is shocking, to say the least,” said Roshan Pathak of PAL.Pathak added: “NMMC levelled wrong allegations against the 2 feeders. Also, there are no proper shelters in Navi Mumbai, except for the sterilisation centre at Turbhe. So, where will all the picked-up dogs be kept? This is animal cruelty and harassment of the feeders.”The NMMC Commissioner Kailas Shinde told TOI: “The Ghansoli feeders were threatening and abusing our civic staff who picked up the stray dogs as per the Supreme Court directions. Hence, a police complaint was lodged. Also, we made a new dog shelter at our Turbhe centre.” Activist Vijay Rangare of Rakshak animal welfare group stated that they will meet NMMC officials on Monday to discuss this issue and also check where the Ghansoli dogs are being kept.Another Navi Mumbai-based activist, Madhu Shankar, commented: “It is sad how quickly the NMMC acts to pick up healthy stray dogs. However, when I complained about an illegal cowshed in Vashi where the bovines are being exploited, leading to a cow death, no civic action was taken.”Meanwhile, Pathak added: “Out of helpless frustration, 1 of the feeders cursed the NMMC officer. However, this cannot be called abuse.” Anupreeta Rao, one of the 2 feeders, said: “We now have to apply for bail against this FIR. We were polite with the NMMC staff, and not abusive.”
