Animal welfare activists in the city are keeping their fingers crossed over the fate of 23 dogs, which were caught in the Mogappair West area on last Sunday.
Activists have alleged their attempts to file a police complaint in this regard had proved futile and so far the concerned police station had not filed an FIR.
G. Arun, founder of People for Cattle in India (PFCI), said the incident came to light when a resident of the area saw the canines being caught and took pictures. The resident then informed Mr. Arun, stating the dogs were caught from the 1 and 2 main roads in Mogappair West.
The activists were told that the dogs were brutally caught using jute ropes. Mr. Arun was informed that Prabhudas, an employee under contract with the Chennai Corporation, had caught the dogs.
Following the incident, Blue Cross authorities went to the Nolambur police station, under whose jurisdiction the two streets fall, and filed a complaint with them. However, the police, instead of filing an FIR, issued a community service register (CSR) to the organisation.
Mr. Arun said only a few of months ago, the director general of police had issued a circular to all the police stations in the State stating, in case of ill-treatment or infliction of cruelty on pets or community dogs, the police under whose jurisdiction such an incident occurred could file an FIR and take necessary action under the Prevention of Cruelties to Animals Act.
Mr. Arun added that the activists wished to know if the caught dogs were alive or dead, and if they were dead, how they had been killed.
When contacted, the Nolambur police conceded that they had not filed an FIR and issued only a CSR. The officials added that they were busy investigating a murder for gain that had occurred in their jurisdiction.
