Police in Uttar Pradesh have filed a 30-page chargesheet against accused, Manoj Kumar, who allegedly killed a rat by tying its tail to a brick and drowning the rodent in a drain in Badaun.
Badaun,UPDATED: Apr 11, 2023 14:54 IST
The accused, Manoj Kumar, from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, allegedly killed the rat by tying its tail to a brick and drowning it in a ditch. (Photo: India Today)
By Ankur Chaturvedi: Police have filed a 30-page chargesheet against a man from Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun, who was accused of allegedly killing a rat by tying its tail to a brick and drowning it in a drain.
The bizarre incident came to the fore when animal rights activist Vikendra Sharma filmed the whole incident and filed a complaint against the accused, Manoj Kumar. Sharma tried to save the rat but it died of suffocation.
Circle officer (CO) Badaun City Alok Mishra said that the police have added various elements to the chargesheet.
“The 30-page chargesheet has been prepared including the post-mortem report, videos released in the media, opinions of the experts of different departments concerned. Investigation officer Rajesh Yadav has written in the chargesheet on the basis of the evidence collected that Manoj Kumar was booked under Section 11 (1) (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act) and Section 429 (killing or maiming animals) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” the CO said.
ALSO READ | Rat murdered in UP’s Budaun? Post-mortem report suggests otherwise
Police sent the body of the rat for post-mortem to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly. In the chargesheet, it has been clarified that the rat’s lungs were damaged due to swelling and there was a liver infection. Apart from this, it was also clarified in the microscopic examination that the rat’s death was caused due to suffocation.
The accused was arrested in the case but was later granted anticipatory bail by a local court.
BUDAUN DFO SPEAKS ON THE CASE
Budaun Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ashok Kumar Singh said that killing a rat is not considered an offense under the Forest Department Act.
“Since an FIR was registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, action had to be taken,” the DFO said.
WHAT IS THE PUNISHMENT?
According to legal experts, in cases registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, there is a fine ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 2,000 and imprisonment of three years. Under Section 429, there is a provision for both imprisonment of five years and a fine.
Meanwhile, Manoj’s father Mathura Prasad said, “It is not wrong to kill a rat or a crow. They are harmful creatures. If our son is punished in such a case, then action should be taken against all those who kill chickens, goats and fishes. Action should also be taken against those who sell medicine to kill rats.”
‘LAW AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY SHOULD BE FOLLOWED’
Vikendra Sharma, who filed the case against Manoj Kumar, said an FIR was lodged for killing the rat but the way the rodent was cruelly killed.
“Before the animals are slaughtered, they are first killed by cutting the veins first. The animal starts losing its consciousness and its ability to move, and it dies afterwards. After that, the body is cut into pieces. There is a separate law for this procedure and its licensing process. We have been engaged in safeguarding animals’ rights for a long time. When the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act has been made, it should be followed too,” Sharma said.
