Horse whipped to dance at Muharram procession in Indore

Indore: In an incident raising the hackles of animal lovers and wildlife activists, a horse was allegedly whipped with a stick to make it dance during a Muharram procession near Narsingh Bazaar Square in Indore.

Viral videos of the incident purportedly showed the horse being repeatedly smacked with a stick in a bid to make it dance, evoking outrage from netizens.The footage, recorded on June 25 night, was widely circulated on social media on Saturday, prompting an animal welfare organisation to seek an FIR against those responsible.Priyansh Jain of Needetail Foundation, a non-profit working for animal welfare, submitted a complaint to Pandhrinath police, alleging that the mare was subjected to pain and fear to make it break into performative postures on the road.The organisation called for strict legal action against those involved in the act.“We came across a video clip in which a man is seen repeatedly hitting a horse with a stick while attempting to control and make it dance during a Muharram procession. Another video from the same procession also showed the animal being forced to perform on the road, while onlookers watched on without intervening. Based on the visual evidence, a complaint was lodged with the police,” said Priyanshu Jain, an activist associated with the non-profit.

She said if anyone wanting to use animals for such activities has to secure a special licence from the Animal Welfare Board concerned.Pandarinath police station in-charge Satish Patel said, “We have taken cognisance of the matter and are in the process of registering an FIR in the case. The complainant has been called to record his statement.”Legal experts weighed into the matter, saying if the investigation establishes that the mare was subjected to unnecessary pain or cruelty, police may invoke Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which makes beating, torturing or causing unnecessary suffering to an animal a punishable offence.Jain said that if the probe finds evidence of serious injury, permanent damage or disability, Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) may also be invoked. The provision prescribes imprisonment of up to five years, a fine, or both for maiming or rendering an animal useless.