Housing society watchman booked for killing stray dog

Mumbai, Nov 20: An FIR has been registered against a watchman of a housing society in suburban Vile Parle for allegedly killing an old stray dog with a wooden stick on November 5, Mumbai Police said on Wednesday.

The FIR was lodged against the security guard by legendary poet Pradeep's daughter, Mitul Pradeep, who is known for rescuing animals in distress and sheltering them in her own bungalow.

The security guard, identified only as Thakur, was booked by Juhu Police on Tuesday under sections 428 (Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten rupees) and 429 (Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), an official said.

The incident had occurred on the premises of the housing society allegedly on the instructions of its office-bearers. The dog had deformed limbs. "The society building is few meters away from my bungalow. I came across about this brutality when one of my friends living in the same building told me. I took the badly injured dog to a veterinary clinic for treatment, but it succumbed to the injuries on November 13," Mitul told PTI.

"I filmed my conversation with the watchman admitting that he had killed the dog on the instruction of society members," she added. When contacted, a senior Juhu police station officer said an FIR was registered against the watchman.