SHILLONG: Cruelty to animals in not uncommon anywhere across the world, and not here in the State as was proved with the arrest of two persons who had killed a dog at Madan Laban locality of the city on Friday, ostensibly to consume it.
One of the youth who committed the crime was caught by a private dog trainer while the other managed to escape towards Kench’s Trace, Laban. The duo was caught red-handed carrying a dead dog in a sack. The apprehended person was later handed over to police, who identified him as Porbart Tlau (29), a school teacher.
“I was returning from my regular training for dogs when I spotted two youths with a blood stained gunny bag. When I forced them to open the bag I found the body of a dog which had been bludgeoned to death,” Bijoy Marak, an acknowledged dog trainer in Shillong, informed.
According to Marak, while one escaped, he managed to catch hold of the other.
The incident has drawn the ire of animal lovers in the city who also lodged a FIR against the accused.
Meanwhile, environmentalist Naba Bhattacharjee, who was also present at the scene, has termed this incident as an inhuman act.
“It is really sad that an animal is killed in such a way just to satisfy one’s meal. If the government can have a law for protection of the wildlife, it should also have an act and make killing and brutality of stray and house pets illegal and punishable,” Bhattacharjee said.
Additional Advocate General (AAG) WHD Syngkon who also condemned the act said, “It is inhumane to kill a mute being. If at all we have to kill a stray, it should be in a humane manner.” Syngkon also rued that the Shillong Municipal Board had not taken up the matter of issuing dog tickets seriously.
Animal lovers have also appreciated the efforts of the police to arrest one of the culprits.
