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.

NOTE : To view larger image please double click on it

Citizen spotted Elephant in Bhandup - Mumbai

Crying EYE of POOR Elephant

Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Thane circular says “In order to stop this violation, it is hereby prohibited to bring or keep Indian Elephant within Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Thane Municipal Corporation without valid ownership with conditions stipulated by Forest Department of Maharashtra”.

On 12^th December 2008 at 8:00 PM, an elephant been spotted using for begging in narrow road at Gamdevi Road, Bhandupo (West) where 2 vehicle hardly passes through and children running, teasing & Pulling the tail of poor elephant which is very dangers for both human as well as animals too and it is clear from photograph they are use for commercial purpose to earn money by displaying it in public.

Photograph by Sunish Subramanan Kunju

Photograph

If anything happened who will be the responsible ?

NOTE : To view larger image please double click on it

Timely action success in solving big incident

Elephant with mahout at Borivili Police Station
on 16 August 2008 at 01:00 AM

Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Thane circular says “In order to stop this violation, it is hereby prohibited to bring or keep Indian Elephant within Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Thane Municipal Corporation without valid ownership with conditions stipulated by Forest Department of Maharashtra”.

An elephant been spotted freely roaming in the streets at Borivili Station without mahout, PAWS-Mumbai office received calls on 15^th August 2008 at 11:30 PM from Wildlife Warden Mumbai Suburb Mr. Sunjoy Monga and also from local residents about the same, PAWS-Mumbai Activist Sunish Subramanian Kunju contacted Range Forest Officer Mr. Magdum and reached the spot, arranged a alternate mahout to control the elephant and taken to Borivili Police Station by 01:00 AM (16^th August 2008). Later the mahout who’s the elephant was came to the police Station and given the custody of elephant after necessary legal action in this matter. This way a big incident was solved.

 Photograph by Sunish Subramanian Kunju

NOTE : To view larger image please double click on it

CCF Thane Circular

Office of the Chief Conservator of Forests Thane

Circular No. D-8(4)/WLP /OW/ 128/07-08, Thane 400 603, Dated 24/7/2007

The Indian Elephant is listed at S.No. 12-B in Schedule -1 of The Wildlife (Protection) Ame ndment Act 2002. This animal is brought within the limits of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Thane Municipal Corporation. The activities carried out by Indian Elephant is in violation of section 2(7A) read with Section 2(39), 38H, 43 and 42 of Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2002.

In order to s top this violation, it is hereby prohibited to bring or keep Indian Elephant within Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Thane Municipal Corporation without valid ownership with conditions stipulated by Forest Department of Maharashtra, Any possession with the limits of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Thane Municipal Corporation without ownership certificate from Forest Department, Maharashtra is treated illegal possession and action will be taken under Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2002 and other related laws.

Chief Conservator of Forests
Thane