Bull summoned to police station

"Sandip", the bullock was in attendance along with his owner yesterday following a complaint lodged by the police themselves alleging ruthless treatment of the animal during the Ganesh immersion procession last month when he pulled a cart of a tableau and excreted solid waste following which some devotees slipped on the route.

The police complaint filed under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act against a Ganesh Mandal which engaged the bullock-cart, was based on the video footage of the procession, an official said, adding measurements of the cart too had been registered.

A constable at the police station took measurements of the bull.
Balu Shelke, owner of the bull, said he did not know the purpose of taking measurements of the bull who had been pulling his cart for the Ganesh Mandal tableau for the annual festival for many years without any health problems.

A spokesman of the Kasaba peth Ganesh mandal said police had lodged an FIR against it under provisions of the Act.

The complaint said, "The bull became panicky due to the high pitch of musical instruments during the Ganesh procession and excreted solid waste. It was raining and his legs were trembling. But volunteers of the mandal were forcing him to go ahead....Some devotees slipped over the waste."

An officer later said though the complaint had been filed in this connection, it was not necessary to summon the bullock to the police station.