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Time of India
09-07-2025
- Time of India
Cops vandalise 30 trucks after bribe demand refusal, 4 SIs suspended
1 2 Kolkata: Four sub-inspectors attached to New Alipore Police were suspended by Lalbazar on Wednesday evening after they were accused of vandalising nearly 30 trucks parked near the New Alipore railway siding in the N-block. The action followed within hours after truckers, including both owners and drivers, staged a protest and launched a demonstration by parking their vehicles on the road from Wednesday morning. They claimed the cops vandalised trucks when the drivers refused to comply with the cops' "extortion attempt". Truck owners blocked the intersection near the police station for about 45 minutes during intermittent rain, adding to the inconvenience of students and the general public. According to local sources, the incident began around midnight on Tuesday when hundreds of trucks were parked on Brahmabandhab Upadhyay Road and the adjacent New Alipore siding, a regular affair for several decades. At 12.30 am, some cops arrived at the spot and allegedly started vandalising the trucks under the pretext of clearing the area of "illegal parking". The windshields of several trucks were smashed, and the front tyres were deflated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Cláudio (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo When the drivers and helpers sleeping protested, they were allegedly beaten by the police. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata In response, truck owners parked the damaged vehicles near Alipore PS in the morning. Later, New Alipore police persuaded the protesters to disperse after promising action. "We have suspended four sub-inspectors pending further enquiry," said DC (South) Priyobrata Roy. Sources said prima facie evidence, as sought by the top brass of Lalbazar, found the conduct of these cops "not in line with the rules of service". Sajal Ghosh, secretary of the federation of West Bengal truck operators' association, said, "At least 30 trucks have been damaged in what we strongly condemn as an unprovoked act of vandalism by the police. The road in question has long been used for truck parking due to the proximity of the railway siding. If police have an issue with the on-road parking of the trucks near the siding, then the siding needs to be shifted out of the city. We demand a clear explanation from the police: Why was such destruction carried out? Who will bear the losses? As members of the trucker community, we are already burdened by relentless extortion and harassment by the police. This latest incident only deepens our sense of injustice. We will not remain silent — we are determined to escalate the matter to the highest authorities to seek accountability and justice." Association member Rajen Singh said, "Cops repeatedly demand money, and harass us when we can't pay. Our trucks have been vandalised earlier as well, but Tuesday's harassment crossed limits." Cops denied the harassment claims but said a probe is on "to ascertain case details."
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Time of India
FIR after FB video shows horse, hitched to carriage, collapsing on road
Kolkata: A first information report (FIR) was registered at Bhowanipore police station after a disturbing video surfaced on social media showing one of two horses hitched to a carriage collapse on the road. DC (south) Priyobrata Roy said the case, drawn up on Thursday, took the evidence from Facebook as the main lead. "Prima facie, we found substance in the allegation that not only was the horse being harshly treated, but it was also an act that could endanger the common man using the road. We have collected CCTV footage and contacted Maidan and Hastings police to identify the owner," an officer said. In 2024, at least eight horses died in Kolkata, as evidenced by information documented by Peta India and the CAPE Foundation. Through various investigations, dozens of horses in the city were found to be anaemic, malnourished, chronically starved, and often with serious health conditions such as broken bones. The horse seen in the video was emaciated and appeared to be suffering from heat stroke and dehydration. The handler can be seen shouting at the animal to haul the carriage again. The other horse is still harnessed to the carriage. The video was originally uploaded on April 21, 2025, by a Facebook user, highlighting concerns about the welfare of the horses during Kolkata's intense summer heat. The horse's condition — thin, severely dehydrated, and visibly distressed — was confirmed by an equine veterinary expert, who assessed the body score as 1.5 out of 5, and noted signs of tremendous stress and pain. Peta India has called for immediate intervention by authorities to find, rescue, and rehabilitate the injured horse, and to ensure the prosecution of those responsible for the abuse under relevant laws. The FIR was registered under section 125 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for negligent conduct with an animal posing probable danger to human life and under sections 325 read with 62 of BNS for attempting to maim and cause permanent harm to the animal. The case also invokes multiple sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, including section 3 for failing in the duty of care, section 11(1)(a) for overworking and inflicting unnecessary suffering, section 11(1)(f) for unreasonably tethering the animal, and section 11(1)(h) for failure to provide adequate food, water, and shelter. Additionally, section 3(5) of BNS was invoked for committing crimes in furtherance of common intention. "The animal needs urgent relocation to a sanctuary where it can receive immediate medical care and be spared further trauma. This shocking footage is yet another example of the cruelty and neglect routinely faced by horses used for rides in Kolkata. The animals are forced to work in extreme temperatures on hard roads, often without adequate food, water, or rest — and this case proves just how dangerous and inhumane these conditions are. It's time for Kolkata to follow Mumbai's example and replace these archaic carriages with electric alternatives," said Peta India representative Chumki Dutta. The Calcutta High Court took serious note of incidents in which horses collapsed at the Maidan and elsewhere in Kolkata due to poor health. The court also noted other issues, such as the wide-scale prevalence of unlicenced hackney carriages in the city and the high rate of abandonment of ailing and unfit horses by their owners. The court directed the state govt to develop a proposal for rehabilitating horse owners and providing them with an alternative livelihood to hauling tourists in carriages so that "dispensing with the horse-drawn carriages as done in Mumbai can be considered and examined for its feasibility".
