Six Men Arrested for Illegal Bullock Cart Racing in Kerala After PETA India Complaint

After receiving a complaint from PETA India, Palakkad police registered a first information report (FIR) on 24 December and arrested six participants in an illegal bullock cart race which took place in Malampuzha. PETA India learned about the incident from a photo in The Hindu showing two bulls being forced to run and their nose ropes being pulled violently.

After submitting a formal complaint to the district police chief of Palakkad, PETA India worked closely with Deputy Superintendent of Police Sri Haridasan on the matter. The FIR includes the provisions of Sections 3 and 11(1)(a) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which makes whipping and beating an animal and causing an animal unnecessary pain and suffering punishable offences. The FIR also includes Sections 289 and 337 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. All six accused were arrested and later released on bail.

During races, terrified bulls run in an effort to escape pain. They’re commonly yanked by their nose ropes to the starting line and hit with bare hands and weapons like nail-studded sticks, and their tailbones are often broken at the joint in attempts to force them to run faster.

On 5 September 2014, the High Court of Kerala passed an order stating that it is bound by the observations and views of the 2014 Supreme Court judgement upholding the ban imposed by the central government’s notification dated 7 July 2011. The court pointed out that the Supreme Court has categorically stated that bulls are not anatomically suited to racing.