After this paper’s report on illegal buffalo fight in Bhiwandi, police register FIR against 3 people
A screengrab of the fight. The buffalo on the right can be seen bleeding from near the horn. Pic/Hanif Patel
After mid-day reported an illegal buffalo fight in Bhiwandi, police launched an inquiry, identified three culprits and filed an FIR for cruelty to animals. Cops said they will soon arrest the accused, and identify others involved in the fight. They have been served a notice, said Dinesh Katake, the in-charge of Padgha police station where the FIR has been filed.
ON January 1, a group of youths celebrated the birthday of a buffalo, named Raja, who won a fight against another, named German, on December 12. In the January 8 report, mid-day highlighted the illegal sport and also the violation of Covid-19 protocols.
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A screengrab of the buffalo fight held last month
The celebration took place at Vadunavghar village in Bhiwandi taluka of Thane district. The three people named in the FIR registered at Padgha police station are Bharat Waman Mhatre, the relative of Raja’s owner Ketan Balaram Patil and German’s owner Manoj Sakharam Patil.
mid-day report prompts inquiry
After mid-day’s January 8 report, Meet Ashar, an associate manager of PETA India’s Emergency Response Team, submitted an application at Ganeshpuri police station. However, after a rigorous search, Ganeshpuri police reached a conclusion that the ground where the brutal fight was held does not fall under their jurisdiction.
A group of youths celebrates the birthday of Raja, the buffalo, the winner in a buffalo fight. Pics/Hanif Patel
Thereafter, the video of the fight was circulated among all police stations in Thane Rural. Assistant Inspector Raju Narawade of Padgha police station was quick to identify the venue. “The buffalo fighting took place at a ground located between Shirole and Dabhad villages, as I could identify the wall of a veterinary hospital in the video,” he told mid-day.
Narawade and his team reached Shirole village for further inquiry and learnt about Mhatre. “We took him to the fighting ground where we could see the hoof prints. The panchanama was conducted,” he said.
Later, police called Ketan from his village Vadu Navghar in Bhiwandi. “Ketan spilled the beans and named Manoj, who lives in Jambivali village,” Narawade said. The matter was discussed with senior officers, following which Superintendent of Police, Thane Rural, Vikram Deshmane directed officers to immediately register an FIR.
Police Naik Sharad Gajanan Chaudhary submitted a complaint and an FIR was registered under relevant Sections of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Indian Penal Code against the trio and others, who are yet to be identified. All the accused are farmers and most of them are school dropouts, said police. “Mhatre and Ketan are relatives.
Mhatre’s brother, who runs a tabela, wanted Ketan’s buffalo, Raja, for breeding. Ketan took Raja to Shirole village and stayed there for a few days. There, he learnt about Manoj’s buffalo, German, and decided to hold a fight for fun,” they added. Police have ruled out the involvement of monetary gain in the fight.
12
Day last month that the buffalo fight was held
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