The Thane police on Thursday arrested a man who was accused of allegedly setting two kittens on fire. The incident supposedly took place at the Ajmal Rama Housing Society in Mira road, where he lived.
The members of the housing society, who were initially unaware of how this had happened, caught a man on CCTV footage lighting a matchstick and setting a paper carton on fire. They identified him as Siddesh Patel. In the footage, he can then be seen picking up a kitten by the neck and flinging it into the fire. This may have been the second kitten, as later in the video, another kitten was seen running out, on fire.
The society members alleged that Siddesh had tried to burn the two male kittens on April 28. The kittens, both male and two and a half months old, had their wounds treated with turmeric. But they luckily managed to escape. An FIR was filed on May 2, according to the police.
The society members approached the police through an animal rights NGO and a case was registered, according to senior inspector Kailash Barve of the Naya Nagar police station in Mira road.
According to Mid-day, the local residents and animal lovers who filed the case were threatened with harm by family members of the accused, which is why they have also registered a non-cognizable offence in order to remain on the safe side.
After the incident, local citizen Allan Fernandez took the kittens to Indira pet clinic and care centre. After examining the kittens, the doctor found multiple burns on its ventral and lateral abdomen as well as on its sides. The doctor has advised daily cleaning and dressing of the wounds.
Siddesh Patel was booked under IPC Section 429 as well as under The Prevention Of Cruelty to Animal Act (PCAA). According to the Act, the accused can be imprisoned for five years, made to pay a fine (ranging in value depending on the offence), or both.
- With inputs from PTI.
