In a deeply disturbing incident, a housing society in Kandivali East has been booked for abandoning approximately 20 stray dogs — including puppies — deep inside Mumbai’s Aarey Forest. The case has sparked outrage among animal rights activists and city residents alike, especially given that Aarey is a known leopard habitat.
What Happened?
According to reports by The Free Press Journal, a mini truck was spotted dumping the dogs in the forest on Sunday night. The video, which went viral on social media, led activists to rush to Aarey in an attempt to rescue the animals.
One dog was rescued on Tuesday night. The following morning, the team returned and recovered nine more dogs. Tragically, three puppies were found dead, bearing bite marks suspected to be inflicted by leopards — a grim confirmation of the worst fears of the rescuers.
A Deliberate Death Sentence?
“Aarey has free-roaming leopards. If you abandon an animal in the forest, the intention is clearly to get them killed,” said Vijay Rangare, president of People For Animals (PFA) and an honorary animal welfare officer.
Animal activists allege that this was not a case of ignorant or careless abandonment — it was calculated. The area where the dogs were left is dense and dangerous, especially at night. The implication is clear: these animals were left to die.
Legal Action Taken
The Samta Nagar police have registered an FIR against four residents of Samarth Nagar Cooperative Housing Society, located in Hanuman Nagar, Kandivali East. The charges have been filed under Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. PFA is urging the authorities to escalate the case by adding charges under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, for causing grievous harm to animals.
The accused have been identified as:
Divya Vichare
Ravi Jodvekar
Nitin Alkunde
Rohit Sawant
Who Blew the Whistle?
Sandesh Shirke, a football coach and animal rights activist, received the video and tracked down the van using its registration number. His swift action and coordination with PFA helped uncover this case and initiate legal proceedings.
Ongoing Concerns
Activists like Reshma Shelatkar warn that such acts might not be isolated. She suspects Aarey is becoming a dumping ground for unwanted pets and strays — a silent, unspoken killing field. “There are hardly any stray dogs in Aarey because it is leopard territory,” she stated, emphasizing the forest’s ecosystem and how it’s being exploited by heartless individuals.
The rescued dogs will be relocated back to their original locality, and PFA is pushing for the residents to sign a formal undertaking to not harm the animals again.
—
At PawPaa, we condemn such cruel acts in the strongest possible terms.
Abandoning helpless animals in predator-inhabited areas is not just inhumane — it’s criminal. We urge authorities to set a strong precedent with this case to deter similar incidents in the future.
Credits:
Story Source: Free Press Journal – Mumbai News, April 16, 2025
Author: Manoj Ramakrishnan
