Victory: Three Illegal Bullock Cart Races Called Off in Ludhiana After PETA India Complaint
Following reports of bullock cart races planned across Ludhiana, PETA India took swift action to prevent three illegal events. The races were scheduled in multiple locations across the Ludhiana district, including Sahnewal on 24 March, Samrala on 25 March, and Jagraon on 26 March. Upon learning of these events, we promptly alerted senior police officials. Thanks to police intervention, the planned races were successfully prevented, sparing countless animals from cruelty.
Following a request from PETA India, Sahnewal Police Station issued a notice under Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to the alleged accused, Upinder Singh alias Vicky Gujral, for organising the illegal bullock cart races, to prevent the unlawful activities.
Bullock cart races inflict enormous suffering on animals. Participants often force exhausted animals to run until they collapse by striking them and using weapons, causing physical injuries and psychological trauma. These animals already face significant hardships when made to work and forcing them to endure being beaten and to race is despicable as well as illegal. We commend Shri S Dev Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana City; Shri Amritpal Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Khanna; Shri Varinder Singh Khosa, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dakha), Ludhiana Rural; Shri Jagdev Singh, Station House Officer, Sahnewal Police Station; Shri Amritpal Singh, Station House Officer, Dakha Police Station; and Dr Ravneet K, Veterinary Officer, Talwandi Kalan village, Ludhiana Rural, for their commitment to upholding the law and protecting animals from abuse.
View this post on Instagram
Since November 2024, PETA India has been raising concerns about illegal animal races in various districts across Punjab. We have successfully prevented over 50 greyhound races with the support of the Punjab Police and district administration. In a supportive tweet, the Director General of Police of Punjab endorsed PETA India’s efforts, emphasising that animals deserve a life free from harm and should be treated with kindness, compassion, and dignity.
In its complaint, PETA India pointed out that according to a December 2020 letter sent to the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) had opined that essentially all animal races are prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and has declared similar events illegal. The letter warned that conducting such races amounted to contempt of court and urged the withdrawal of any permissions or directions for such activities to ensure compliance with the law. Additionally, such races violate multiple provisions of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the PCA Act, 1960, which prohibits inflicting unnecessary suffering on animals.
The complaint also pointed out that the PCA Act, 1960, specifically criminalises inciting animals to fight with other animals. In the landmark judgment of 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 come within the purview of animal fights, as they involve forcing them into competitive and harmful situations, akin to incitement to fight.
