FIRs registered on cruelty to animals in illegal buffalo fights in Assam

Two FIRs were registered in central Assam’s Nagaon district this week following complaints by PETA India against cruelty to animals during unauthorised buffalo fights

GUWAHATI

Two First Information Reports (FIR) were registered in central Assam’s Nagaon district this week following complaints by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India against cruelty to animals during unauthorised buffalo fights.

The Raha and Nagaon police registered the FIRs in connection with the illegal buffalo fights organised in the Raha Koroiguri and Kasomari areas. The cases were registered under relevant Sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 based on videos of the fights on YouTube.

According to PETA India, the breaking of a buffalo’s horn can be heard as a loud crack before the broken horn becomes visible in the first video.

In the second, two buffaloes are beaten by men with sticks and forced to lock horns. The two panicked buffaloes charge toward the spectators and are beaten again after one of the spectators falls to the ground.

Acting on a PETA India petition months ago, the Gauhati High Court directed the authorities to ensure strict enforcement of the standard operating procedure governing the conduct of traditional animal fights in Assam. This meant buffalo and bulbul fights could not be conducted beyond a phase of Magh Bihu from January 15-25.

Unauthorised animal fights continued to take place, necessitating police complaints, PETA India said.