Kolkata: Behala police has arrested a truck driver for allegedly running over a street dog on Diamond Harbour Road around midnight. The arrest was made on the basis of a complaint from animal lovers who even chased the vehicle towards Thakurpurkur and ensured the driver was arrested.
Vikas kumar, the driver who was charged under various sections, was later granted bail.
The driver, claimed witnesses, had crossed Behala Manton when the dog tired to cross the road near Simultala market. Kumar reportedly drove ahead without braking and hit the animal. He tried to flee but animal lovers chased him down.
A police officer stated the postmortem of the animal could not be completed on this occasion. “The dog was cremated and therefore could not be sent for postmortem,” said an investigating officer. Police are now using CCTV footage to develop their case.
The animal right activists who lodged the complaint could not be contacted for their version of events.
“If you hit an animal, come out and ensure first aid. If you feel unsafe to go out and help, at least make a call to the authorities and wait. If you are planning to lodge a complaint, help police to preserve as much evidence as possible. As an investigator, it is the duty to send the body for a post-mortem. The photographs of the crime scene has to be preserved,” said an officer.
Animal rights activists claimed the offenders seldom get arrested as police ignore the complaints.
“I remember a few years ago, one driver was arrested in Jadavpur for running over a dog. But then on, we have lodged hundreds of complaints of dogs being run over without any major reaction from the cops. However, Wednesday’s incident is a welcome change. We thank Kolkata Police,” said Soutrik Chatterjee, an animal rights activist. A joint commissioner said they will soon prepare an SOP.
Vikas kumar, the driver who was charged under various sections, was later granted bail.
The driver, claimed witnesses, had crossed Behala Manton when the dog tired to cross the road near Simultala market. Kumar reportedly drove ahead without braking and hit the animal. He tried to flee but animal lovers chased him down.
A police officer stated the postmortem of the animal could not be completed on this occasion. “The dog was cremated and therefore could not be sent for postmortem,” said an investigating officer. Police are now using CCTV footage to develop their case.
The animal right activists who lodged the complaint could not be contacted for their version of events.
“If you hit an animal, come out and ensure first aid. If you feel unsafe to go out and help, at least make a call to the authorities and wait. If you are planning to lodge a complaint, help police to preserve as much evidence as possible. As an investigator, it is the duty to send the body for a post-mortem. The photographs of the crime scene has to be preserved,” said an officer.
Animal rights activists claimed the offenders seldom get arrested as police ignore the complaints.
“I remember a few years ago, one driver was arrested in Jadavpur for running over a dog. But then on, we have lodged hundreds of complaints of dogs being run over without any major reaction from the cops. However, Wednesday’s incident is a welcome change. We thank Kolkata Police,” said Soutrik Chatterjee, an animal rights activist. A joint commissioner said they will soon prepare an SOP.
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