BRAVEHEART

Until we have the courage to recognize cruelty for what it is--whether its victim is human or animal--we cannot expect things to be much better in this world... We cannot have peace among men whose hearts delight in killing any living creature. By every act that glorifies or even tolerates such moronic delight in killing we set back the progress of humanity.
--Rachel Carson

Thou shalt not kill.
--Exodus 20:13

These words have been ringing through our heads since Saturday evening. How could they? Why would they? What kind of people are these? Emotions were swimming through our minds.
Four security guards at the DRDO had just beaten a small dog to death. The reason is still hazy, some say it came sniffing for food and water, the security guard claims it bit him but has no bite mark to prove it. Haplessly, they beat her for twenty minutes with sticks…kicking her even while she lay motionless on the ground, with a slight wag of her tail. Even after she was no more, they kept whacking her on her head. The first blow was probably the lethal one, directly on her head, and after she collapsed the ravage act continued. The most horrifying part of this incident was that thirty odd employees of the DRDO and passer byes just watched, even worse they were instigating and encouraging the guards to ensure the dog was dead. Educated people were party to this incident, by not taking a stand against what was happening they too are all responsible today for this heinous act. One of the security guards when asked why he was doing this said to the police “main josh mey aaya!”, translated to ‘I was pumped up’!! They felt absolutely no remorse about what they had done.
Just three people had the courage to stand up and try to stop the incident. Anita and Amarjit Singh were two of them. How can it be that in a mob of so many only three people had the courage and humanity to try to end this act? It is shameful.
This is an excerpt from the official press release:
“3 people arrested 1 absconding for killing a dog in DRDO Training and Recruitment Centre Transit Guest House. In a shocking incident a small female dog was mercilessly beaten to death by security men of the DRDO transit guest house.

On Saturday (March 7) Amarjit Singh along with his 3 relatives while travelling on the NDA road spotted 4-6 people surrounding a small female dog and beating her to death with stick and kicking and stamping her. By the time they could stop the people the dog had already become motionless.
They soon called Neha Panchamiya from RESQ CHARITABLE TRUST (The Paws Pack) who in turn called the police and immediately rounded up the people involved. These included 3 permanent staff of the DRDO and 4 security personnel. In an exceptional show of commitment the police acted swiftly and in a very organized manner. They immediately conducted a spot panchnama and decided to send the dog for post mortem. To ensure that every required norm is properly adhered, they requested help of Manoj Oswal, Animal Welfare Officer nominated by the central government. Oswal immediately directed the dog to be sent to the Deputy Director of Animal Husbandly for post mortem. The post mortem was conducted by Dr Lokhande of the Aundh Veterinary Polyclinic in presence of Neha Panchamiya of RESQ CHARITABLE TRUST. A complaint was lodged by the Pashan Police under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and section 489 of the IPC. 3 contracted employees of the DRDO have been arrested.”

Saturday was a day when we saw modern people regress to barbaric times. When words like compassion and humanity were not known of. As an organisation that works for the well being of animals, we come across various different cases where animals are injured, ill, etc. To come face to face with an act of such cruelty has made it a red letter day for us. The anger we feel, the revenge we want, the sadness of loss, every single emotion we will divert to create our strength, and we will not let them walk free.
“Braveheart” as we remember her, wagged her tail in her last moments…perhaps bringing peace, perhaps she said “forgive as I forgive”, perhaps she smiled knowing there was someone on her side. We will not let her down. For she will be immortal in the example that she will set. That such crimes will not be over looked as petty issues, that words like “just a dog” or “it happens everywhere” will not be an excuse for murderers like these.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”.Profound thought. Who cares? Do you?

Braveheart. RIP.