<p>A video showing two youths forcing a mule to inhale smoke from a cigarette -- allegedly stuffed with weed -- en route to Kedarnath has become widely circulated, leading to the arrest of a mule owner and outcry among social media users.</p>.<p>The video purports to show one man holding the animal's mouth and a nostril while the second one is forcing it to inhale the smoke through the other nostril.</p>.<p>Social media users have demanded strict action against the mule/horse operators for subjecting an animal they use for their livelihood to such "inhuman treatment".</p>.<p>They conjectured that it was being done to numb the animal's senses to force it to work harder.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/high-level-committee-to-probe-alleged-scam-in-gold-plating-at-kedarnath-temple-1230708.html" target="_blank">High-level committee to probe alleged scam in gold plating at Kedarnath temple</a></strong></p>.<p>Horses and mules are used to ferry pilgrims and their baggage on the trek route to the Himalayan temple.</p>.<p>The police in Rudraprayag examined the video and found that the incident occurred recently at the Tharu Camp near Choti Lincholi along the 16-kilometre trek route to Kedarnath, said Suresh Chandra Baluni, an inspector at Sonprayag police station.</p>.<p>Rakesh Singh Rawat, a mule owner, has been arrested in this connection, he said.</p>.<p>A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act has been registered against him, the officer said.</p>.<p>Baluni said it is being investigated if the cigarette was stuffed with weed.</p>.<p>The yatra to Kedarnath began on April 25 and the police have registered 14 cases of cruelty to equines in two months.</p>
<p>A video showing two youths forcing a mule to inhale smoke from a cigarette -- allegedly stuffed with weed -- en route to Kedarnath has become widely circulated, leading to the arrest of a mule owner and outcry among social media users.</p>.<p>The video purports to show one man holding the animal's mouth and a nostril while the second one is forcing it to inhale the smoke through the other nostril.</p>.<p>Social media users have demanded strict action against the mule/horse operators for subjecting an animal they use for their livelihood to such "inhuman treatment".</p>.<p>They conjectured that it was being done to numb the animal's senses to force it to work harder.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/high-level-committee-to-probe-alleged-scam-in-gold-plating-at-kedarnath-temple-1230708.html" target="_blank">High-level committee to probe alleged scam in gold plating at Kedarnath temple</a></strong></p>.<p>Horses and mules are used to ferry pilgrims and their baggage on the trek route to the Himalayan temple.</p>.<p>The police in Rudraprayag examined the video and found that the incident occurred recently at the Tharu Camp near Choti Lincholi along the 16-kilometre trek route to Kedarnath, said Suresh Chandra Baluni, an inspector at Sonprayag police station.</p>.<p>Rakesh Singh Rawat, a mule owner, has been arrested in this connection, he said.</p>.<p>A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act has been registered against him, the officer said.</p>.<p>Baluni said it is being investigated if the cigarette was stuffed with weed.</p>.<p>The yatra to Kedarnath began on April 25 and the police have registered 14 cases of cruelty to equines in two months.</p>