Residents Concerned About Man’s Alleged Use of Firearm
But the licence holder said he only wanted to protect his animals
Residents of Saru, Lautoka, are concerned of their neighbour who allegedly uses a firearm to shoot animals in his compound.
But the firearm licence holder said he only wanted to protect his livestock after admitting that he used it to shoot animals that posed a threat to them.
This is the comment of Samsher Ali of Saru, Lautoka, following complaints and a Police report that dogs in the area were being shot by him.
Police spokesperson Wame Bautolu confirmed a report was made to the Lautoka Police Station and investigations were underway.
Resident, Filo Ravouvou said residents were afraid for their children’s safety.
“There are so many kids in the area and he uses his gun anytime, even today (Wednesday) there was a dead dog still laying on his property,” she said.
“One of my dogs survived a gun shot while my other dog died so we are lodging a report with Police about this.”
But, Mr Ali dismissed claims of stray bullets possibly inflicting residents
“That will never happen because I am shooting in my compound and
I live on a farm area not a residential one but I am using a shotgun. “I just want to protect my animals because this is my chicken farming business and what else can I do if the dogs are attacking my chickens and some of the dogs are stray?” he said.
“The best thing to do is to tie up their dogs and Police have warned them many times because this has been happening three to five years now, if they have animals the least they can do is secure them.” Animal activist, Kamini Narayan, said: “Licence or no licence it must surely be against the law to shoot just because the dogs were a problem.
“Today is a dog. Tomorrow can be a human.
“It’s not a firing range. Ciminal intimidation by use of a live firearm or killing dogs in a community is a red flag.
“If he wasn’t arrested his gun should have been confiscated straight after statements were recorded.”
Meanwhile, the firearm licence was cited with the licence issued on January 22, 2020 at the Lautoka Police Station.
There are so many kids in the area and he uses his gun anytime, even today (Wednesday) there was a dead dog still laying on his property. One of my dogs survived a gun shot while my other dog died so we are lodging a report with police about this. Filo Ravouvou Saru, Lautoka resident