Pup deaths unite Baghajatin residents; cops start probe

Kolkata: A day after five puppies were found dead under mysterious circumstances — apparently from poisoning — on Wednesday, residents of Baghajatin’s Ghoshpara reacted strongly and persuaded the local Jadavpur police station to start an inquiry. They also initiated measures to save two other puppies who survived the poisoning.

The puppies had taken shelter in Durjodoy Sangha, a local club. They used to play around and were fed by locals. Later that evening, five of them were found lying dead at a nearby spot. Two puppies were later recovered from a nearby lane. “People from a different locality might have poisoned them,” said Arun Ghosh (62), a local businessman.

Partha Ghosh, a resident of Ghoshpara, came across the carcasses on Tuesday night and informed his neighbours and the Jadavpur police station. Cops arrived at the spot and the carcasses were sent for post mortem.

Partha said, “We visited the Jadavpur police station along with legal advisor Priyanka Saha and other street-dog lovers. If proper investigation is not conducted and the accused are not punished we will take legal steps and organise a protest march. We value lives of all animals.”

Ashish Dey (53), a resident of Santoshpur and a local social worker, said that the brutal killing of the puppies has left locals enraged. “Nothing like this has ever happened in the area and steps need to be taken,” he said.

Shyamali Roy (54), another resident of Ghoshpara, said people from neighbouring areas often feed the dogs and the puppies in the evening. “It is clear that this has been done by people from outside the locality. We suspect three-four households in an adjacent neighbourhood,” said Roy.

Several puppies had been battered to death at the NRS Medical College’s girl’s hostel last year. It led to an angry protest across the city, eventually resulting in the arrest of two nurses.