Cops seize injured, underfed horses from Nariman Point

Both the animals were transported to the BMC’s Malad cattle pound for immediate medical examination and veterinary care

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), last week, confiscated two horses from Nariman Point after they were seen getting used for 'joy rides' and were found in a sorry state. After PETA received a tip that two horses thought to have been used for joy rides were tied up without shade, food, or water opposite Tulsiani Chambers in Nariman Point, the group swung into action. The team immediately complained to the nearest police station.

After receiving PETA complaint, the Mumbai police arrived at the scene and seized the horses, who were found to be malnourished and very thin — with visible ribs and backbones — and injured, with multiple large wounds, including a huge infected wound on one horse’s wither and left knee.

Both animals were transported to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) cattle pound in Malad for an immediate medical examination and veterinary care. The horses are currently recuperating and in a better condition than before.

“Keeping horses in Mumbai is illegal, and using them for joy rides is cruel, yet sick, malnourished, injured horses are still forced to live in filthy, unlicensed stables and are not provided with basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter,” says PETA India Emergency Response Coordinator Meet Ashar. He also added there are wounds even at the animal's hip which indicates they were constantly whipped.

In June 2015, the High Court of Bombay ruled that housing horses in stables not licensed by BMC and using horse-drawn carriages, or Victorias, in Mumbai for socalled “joy rides” is “completely illegal”. In July 2017, the HC accepted the rehabilitation plan submitted by the Maharashtra government for horse-drawn carriage owners and drivers, allowing horses to be removed from Mumbai roads and drivers to receive a payment and/or a vendor licence, thus ensuring their livelihood.

The organisation has also urged the court authorities to give horses' custody to PETA post the treatment instead of handing them over to the owners. “It will be the same in the later stage and we don't want that,” Ashar added.

Meanwhile, the Kherwadi Police Station, on Thursday last week, seized two young horses who were being used in a political rally organised by followers of the Indian National Congress to protest against rising fuel prices.

The organisation has also urged the court authorities to give the horses' custody to PETA post the treatment instead of handing them over to the owners