Paschim Medinipur Administration & MPs June Maliah and Sayani Ghosh Support PETA India in Rescuing Abandoned Pony
A 7 to 8-year-old skewbald pony seen limping through traffic on severely overgrown hooves and other painful health ailments scavenging along Kharagpur’s Malancha Road in West Bengal, has been rescued and transported to a sanctuary run by Animal Rahat for veterinary treatment and rehabilitation. The operation followed action by PETA India with assistance from the District Magistrate of Paschim Medinipur Shri Bijin Krishna, IAS; Superintendent of Police of Paschim Medinipur is Smt. Papiya Sultana, IPS, the Sub-Divisional Officer of Kharagpur Shri Bhuvana Pranith Pappula, IAS; the Deputy Director of the Animal Resources Development Department (Kharagpur) Dr. Chinmoy Chakraborty; Inspector-in-Charge (IC) of the Kharagpur Town Police Station Shri Amit Kumar Mitra; and local animal advocate Smt. Sudebi Bhattacharya; with support from Members of Parliament (MPs) Smt. June Maliah and Smt. Sayani Ghosh.
Despite the pony being abandoned and suffering due to the pain caused by severely overgrown, enlarged hooves and swollen fetlock joints, chronic osteoarthritis and impaired mobility, PETA India faced resistance from certain locals, delaying rescue efforts. The horse finally received the necessary treatment after efforts by the local authorities and the Hon’ble MPs.
“This abandoned pony is yet another victim of the joyride industry. This rescue shows what can be achieved when authorities, animal protection groups, and citizens act together. I thank PETA India for never giving up on this pony and Animal Rahat for housing the pony. I would also like to thank the District Magistrate of Paschim Medinipur, Shri Bijin Krishna, IAS; the Superintendent of Police of Paschim Medinipur, Smt. Papiya Sultana, IPS, the Sub-Divisional Officer of Kharagpur, Shri Bhuvana Pranith Pappula, IAS, the Deputy Director of the Animal Resources Development Department (Kharagpur), Dr. Chinmoy Chakraborty, and the Inspector-in-Charge (IC) of the Kharagpur Town Police Station, Shri Amit Kumar Mitra, for their prompt intervention in the rescue operation. I urge the public to help other ponies by choosing animal-free forms of entertainment.” – Hon’ble Member of Parliament Smt. June Maliah.
In nearby Kolkata, PETA India is running a campaign to help horses used to haul tourist carriages. In June 2026 alone, PETA India registered three FIRs in Kolkata involving neglected or distressed horses: one concerning a foal found running frantically amid active traffic, another involving a horse suffering from severely overgrown hooves due to prolonged neglect by the owner, who was subsequently rescued from the Hastings area; and a third in Ikbalpur, where a horse mare died in the middle of traffic, prompting PETA India to register an FIR. And since 2024, at least 18 horses in the city have reportedly died or ultimately succumbed to road accidents and other injuries. The Calcutta High Court has taken serious note of the poor condition of horses, the prevalence of unlicensed hackney carriages, and the abandonment of ailing animals. In an order dated 9 May 2024, it directed the state government to develop a proposal to rehabilitate horse-carriage owners so that replacing horse-drawn carriages—as done in Mumbai—can be considered. On 7 July 2026, PETA India appealed to Hon’ble Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to replace horse-drawn tourist carriages in Kolkata with heritage-style electric carriages, as Mumbai has done. Action is awaited.
