Animal rights activist held for attack on cattle traders

NEW DELHI: Animal rights activist Gaurav Gupta was arrested on Thursday for being allegedly involved in the assault on three men near Kalkaji temple for transporting buffaloes in an unhygienic condition. He was given bail later.
Gupta claimed that he is a member of People For Animals (PFA) and had joined the other activists, Shashank Sharma and his mother Vandana, near the temple.Police will be verifying his claims with the NGO. He will also be taken in front of the truck driver and cleaners to establish his role in the incident.
The activist said that he had seen the truck near Dhaula Kuan while returning home and trailed it till south Delhi. He followed the truck as a strong stench was emanating from it. The truck was intercepted near Kalkaji temple. He alleged that the truck driver tried to ram his while he was chasing it. When the activists stopped the truck and started checking it, a group of men attacked the driver and cleaner. His claims will be verified with the video footage from the spot.
He has been charged under IPC sections 323 (causing hurt), 341 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
The three cattle traders — Ashu Mohammad, Mohammad Rizwan and Kamil — were thrashed by a group of men claiming to be animal rights activists on April 22.
Issuing a strong warning against vigilantism, the police have asked patrol staff along Ring Road and Outer Ring Road in south Delhi to be on alert. “We have proper interception mechanisms in place across the city. If someone informs us about anything illegal, we will take steps accordingly,” said a senior police officer.
Police said this is not the first time that vigilante groups have stopped and checked trucks on Ring Road and Outer Ring Road. “They form teams with spotters and chasers at entry points to the city from Haryana. Once the spotter finds a suspicious truck, he alerts the chasers who intercept them on Ring Road before they enter east Delhi or head towards Gazipur,” said a police officer.