Treasurer of housing society in Kharghar booked for chasing stray dogs from it

Mangesh Ranwade said they have created a dog feeding station outside the society entrance where the dog lovers can feed them

The treasurer of a housing society in Kharghar has been booked for allegedly scaring stray dogs from the premises by using fireworks in the parking area. The accused Mangesh Ranwade, the deputy city president of Shiv Sena in Kharghar, told mid-day that he was helpless, as residents including children and elderly people were injured while being chased by the stray dogs in the premises of Hyde Park Co-op Housing Society Ltd. He also said dog fights had also created terror among the residents, security guards and house-keeping staff.

The complainant, Kulbhushan Singh, who is an animal lover and a resident of the housing society, said, "There were nearly half a dozen stray dogs who had grown up on our society premises. They all were vaccinated and non-aggressive. Between August 16-20, I heard fire crackers in the parking area of our society. This was early in the morning and late evening. When I asked the security guards, they told me that they were asked by the treasurer, Mangesh Ranwade, to scare the stray dogs."

"This was really inhuman as after the dogs were chased away, one of them died in a road accident just outside the society entrance while others got injured in territorial fighting with other dogs. So I got an FIR registered on September 18 as it amounted to atrocities against animals," Singh added.

Another resident, Aditya Mauskar said, "This was cruelty as the animals were forced to stay in the rain. Dog lovers like me cannot feed them inside our society premises." Ranwade has allegedly put up posters in the society barring feeding of stray dogs.

One of the dogs who was injured after being chased from the Hyde Park Co-op Housing Society Ltd

Animal rescue team head Seema Tank, of NGO Alfa Foundation, helped Singh get the FIR registered. "One dog got injured in a territorial fight while two ran towards the Sion-Panvel highway dodging other stray dogs. One of the dogs was found dead and we suspect that he was beaten to death as his backbone was badly crushed as if he was caned," Tank said.

'Residents, security were scared'

Justifying his deed, Ranwade said, "There are 764 flats with 3,000 residents in our housing society. Every day we had been getting complaints from them regarding dog bites, kids and elderly people being chased by them, etc. Office goers were also scared to go in the parking area as the pack of dogs would often chase them. A few of them got injured while elderly people fell down and their knees were injured."

"This continued for six months and we received 60 complaints of dog bites and elderly people and children being chased by the pack of dogs, etc. Even the security guards as well as house-keeping staff were scared to work for us," he added.

"Around 450 flat owners started a signature campaign to get rid of them. So, we decided to use the fire crackers in a corner of the parking area so that the stray dogs can go from the premises. But we have created a dog feeding station outside our society entrance where the dog lovers can feed them," said Ranwade.

An officer attached to Kharghar police station said, "An FIR has been registered under section 429 (Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc. of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees) of IPC and section 11 (treating animals cruelly) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act." Ranwade told mid-day that he has taken bail in connection with the case.