Illegal Bullock Cart and Horse Races Cancelled in Belagavi Following PETA India Complaint
After receiving a promotional poster advertising an event that was scheduled for 28 July featuring multiple spectacles involving animals, including bullock cart races, horse-and-bull cart races, horse carriage races, horse cart races, sitting horse race, and bull-in-hand holding running races, PETA India swiftly alerted the Belagavi Police. Acting on the complaint, the police warned the organisers and prevented the event from being conducted, sparing numerous animals from being subjected to cruelty. We commend Station House Officer, Khadaklat Police Station, Ms Krishna Veni, Belagavi Police, for upholding the law and protecting bulls and horses from abuse. Following the intervention, the organisers cancelled the event and circulated a message confirming the cancellation to the registered participants.
In its complaint, PETA India pointed out that such races are prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, and also violate multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The PCA Act, 1960, criminalises inciting animals to fight with other animals. In the landmark judgment of In Animal Welfare Board of India vs A Nagaraja & Ors (Civil Appeal No 5387/2014) of 7 May 2014, the Hon’ble Supreme Court clarified that activities such as animal racing fall within the purview of animal fights, as they involve forcing animals into competitive and harmful situations, akin to incitement to fight.
Animals used for such events commonly suffer serious injuries and even death. Investigations conducted by PETA India reveal that during bullock cart races, bulls are often beaten with wooden sticks that are spiked with nails in order to get them to run faster in the sweltering heat and their tails are twisted and broken, causing them extreme pain and leaving them covered with blood.
Horses used for racing are forced to sprint, often under the threat of whips and even illegal electric-shocking devices, at speeds so fast they frequently sustain injuries and even haemorrhage from the lungs. In 2016, the Rajasthan High Court prohibited tonga races in Rajasthan after reviewing a report from the Animal Welfare Board of India. The report highlighted that horses suffer from cruelty when they are forced to run amid noisy vehicles and loud spectators, causing them fear and distress.
Using animals of different species to pull the same cart violates the Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animals Rules, 1965, notified under the PCA Act, 1960, as they operate at different speeds and have differing heights and capacities.
