City cop felicitated by PETA for animal welfare activities

Chiranjeevi Nath Sinha, Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police (West), Lucknow, and also the brand ambassador of the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, received the prestigious ‘Hero to the Animal’ award from PETA, recently. Sinha has received the honour for his dedication to advocating for and safeguarding animal rights. This esteemed recognition makes him one of only six individuals across India to have earned this recognition. Past recipients of this award include actors Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Pooja Bhatt, Assamese singer, composer, lyricist, film director, producer and actor Zubin Garg and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Having already worked with the Forest Department, Sinha embarked on his journey towards the well-being of animals during the pandemic in 2020 with PETA where he facilitated feeding of stray animals and those in the zoo. Sinha shares, “When COVID-19 stopped all transportation, many focused on feeding humans, but few thought about hungry animals. We coordinated with various organizations and NGOs to distribute food to animals in need. We also rescued around a thousand birds from the bird market of Nakkhas, including exotic birds and released them in Kukrail. Similar to bullfighting, there are instances of dog fighting too. There was a family in Malihabad, who kept dogs for such fights. We rescued the two boxer dogs from there and had them put in a shelter. Adding to that, we have also rescued 70 horses from spiked bits which are cruel devices used to maintain control over horses.”

Highlighting the importance of protecting and sheltering animals
“If we think that only humans have the right to live in the environment, we are neglecting the importance of our diverse biosphere. Humans are the smartest of all species, hence our duty increases to protect the other species. Prevention must be met maintaining law and order. However, the laws are not sensitized enough to be taken seriously. Even in the police station, my initiative is to spread awareness and sensitization towards the protection of animals. If animals are being treated badly, it must be taken into cognizance and due course of strict action must be taken against the perpetrator.”
He adds, "I am elated to receive this award, but with that comes an increase in the responsibility towards the initiative. This award is dedicated to all the voiceless creatures who are not able to express how they feel. I aim to be their language, to speak for these voiceless creatures. Hence I want to keep raising my voice to create a world where all kinds of animals are heard and protected."
"I want schools to take initiatives that talk about animal safety and help children develop a connection with them. Also, with Diwali coming, I would request people to be cautious to not burn crackers near animals and include them in their celebrations peacefully."
-Amina Ashraf