Mumbai: Fire brigade guard hurts dog, shunted

MUMBAI: Aguard posted at the fire brigade’s sub-station at Nahur was recently shunted from duty for allegedly injuring a stray dog by hurling a bamboo stick. A criminal offence has been lodged at Bhandup police station.

Nahur resident Prasad Patkar said the on-contract guard, Chandan Singh, had assaulted the 16-year-old stray Kalu that has caused a bulge on its front limb and left the dog limping. “The guard has been caught on camera throwing the bamboo at the dog as she was urinating on the road, outside the fire station,” said Patkar who lodged the police complaint. “It left the dog trembling with fear.”

Patkar said that the “non-repentant” security guard kept smirking even at the police station in front of the cops.

The police were initially reluctant to register a criminal offence, said animal activist Navin Nadar.

A police official, Vikas Jadhav, confirmed that an FIR has been lodged and said that the guard has been issued a notice to report to the police.

The security guard has been moved out from his posting, confirmed a senior official from Nahur fire station who asked not to be named. “Fire brigade personnel risk their lives to rescue animals in distress,” he said. “How can we have a person who beats up animals working with us?”