Police responded to Ms. Amruta Walke Letter about “Elephants made to beg on the streets of Thane, near Railway Station”

Letter received by Citizen Ms. Amruta Walke
 from Senior Police Inspector – Thane Nagar Police
after her complaint to Commissioner of Police Thane 

On 15 January 2009, Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAW-Mumbai) Office received a copy of letter received by Citizen Ms. Amruta Walke from Senior Police Inspector – Thane Nagar Police Station following to her letter dated 24 October 2009 to Mr. Shree Bhagwan (IFS) Chief Conservator of Forest Thane and copy of it have been forwarded to The Commissioner of Police Thane in regards to “Request to Implement Wildlife Protection Laws strictly”.

In this regards with reference to Thane Nagar Police Station letter to Citizen Ms. Amruta Walke, PAWS-Mumbai have feedback to the Thane Nagar Police Station.

The brief letter written by PAWS-Mumbai ………………………..

This is with reference to your abovementioned letter to Ms. Amruta Walke. We wish to bring to your notice that it is within your jurisdiction (in addition to Forest Dept) to take action against those elephant handlers / owners who make them walk on the streets and beg for alms and food.

We have noticed that Ms. Walke had address a letter to Thane Police Commissioner (in addition to Chief Conservator of Forests (Thane) (dated 24.10.2009) for necessary action. Thane Police Commissioner in turn wrote to you for necessary action. But it seems you have not acted on the Police Commissioner’s directive but have chosen to instruct the Range Forest Officer (Thane) who is a junior to the Chief Conservator of Forests. This amounts to passing the back (Copy of letter’s Attached).



PAWS-Mumbai Letter to Senior Police Inspector
Thane Nagar Police Station

Once again, we bring to your notice that you are fully within your duties and rights to take strict action against such offenders under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Performing Animals Rules 1973 and 2001 (Animal Law Leaflet Attached).

Please note that the handler / owner of the elephant against which you have received this complaint have been fined under Sec. 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and under Sec. 73 of the Bombay Police Act 1951 by Bhandup Police Station on 19^th Oct. 2009 (Copy of New Paper Attached).

So we request you to take strict action against the handler / owner of this elephant which is frequently seen roaming Thane West near Station Bridge which is band (Copy of CCF Circular & Public Complaint Attached).

Kindly take appropriate penal action and inform us of the same in writing at the earliest.

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