Kochi: The Nedumbassery police on Tuesday arrested Chengamanad panchayat president P. R Rajesh, vice president Asha Elias and all other members for killing stray dogs. They were later released on bail. The panchayat authorities, who were charged with cruelty to animals, have launched an intensive drive to kill violent stray dogs to make Chengamanad the first stray-dog free panchayat in the state. As many as 25 dogs were killed on Monday.
Jose Maveli who provided support for the initiative was arrested and released on bail. “Anwar Sadath MLA and leaders of all political parties supported us. A civic reception has also been organised for us. We will go ahead with killing violent strays and are ready to face the legal consequences,” he told DC. Meanwhile, industrialist and leader of the Stray Dog free Movement Kochouseph Chittilappilly said that legal assistance and protection would be given to those who initiate culling of stray dogs.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that humans had the right to kill violent strays. Chittilappilly strongly criticized the statement of Justice Narayana Kurup, chairman of Police Complaint Authority, saying that he (Chittilappilly) and Jose Maveli would be slapped with KAPPA Act and imprisoned. “Though law permits the killing of violent stray dogs, the government is hiding it from the public. A complaint has been submitted to the Vigilance Department seeking an inquiry into the corruption involved in the sterilization programme of strays,” he added.
