Ludhiana: A grisly discovery of animal remains in a local residential area has sparked a police investigation into a suspected illegal skinning and meat racket, following a high-profile intervention by animal rights activist and politician Maneka Gandhi.Residents of Dhillon Nagar stumbled upon the skins and teeth of 15-odd dogs on Feb 1 while searching for a neighbor’s missing pet in an abandoned lot. Despite the gruesome nature of the find, local authorities initially failed to take action. The case only gained momentum after Kavita Sharma, an animal welfare activist from BRS Nagar, bypassed local channels to contact Maneka Gandhi via email.Following the former Union minister’s intervention, the Daba police formalised the investigation. “We found the skins of about 15 dogs and several teeth at the spot,” said Sharma, who runs an organisation for the protection of stray and injured animals. “I informed the police quickly and lodged a complaint, but they did not register the case until higher authorities were involved.”Fears of ‘meat racket’The complainant has raised concerns that the animals may have been slaughtered for more than just their hides. Sharma suggested that the dog meat could potentially be used at local eateries, a theory that has caused significant alarm among residents. Assistant sub-inspector Gursharanjit Singh confirmed that a first-information report (FIR) has been filed against unidentified suspects.The accused face charges under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to mischief by killing or maiming animals, and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, covering various forms of animal cruelty. Officers from the Daba police station are canvassing the area for witnesses and scanning local security footage to identify those responsible for dumping the remains.
