Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 10: An FIR has been registered after several stray cats and kittens were found dead and mutilated in Mumbai’s Chembur area, with animal rights organisation PETA India suspecting the involvement of a serial cat killer or killers.
The incidents were reported from the Panjarapole-Kamakhyawadi area, where several stray cats were found with severe injuries to their heads. According to PETA India, nearly 20 cats have been found dead or mutilated in the area, raising concern among local residents and animal feeders.
PETA India has announced a reward of up to Rs 50,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the killings.
The complaint was filed by 53-year-old Rubeena Abdul Malik Pathan, who has been feeding and helping treat stray cats in the area for the past five to six years.
According to her complaint, Pathan found four cats dead in the area on September 3. She photographed the bodies on her mobile phone and preserved the images.
On the morning of September 6, she returned to the area near the Shani temple to feed the cats and found another cat and a kitten lying dead and covered in blood.
The animals had suffered severe head injuries, with the wounds suggesting that they may have been struck with a heavy or sharp object. The repeated deaths raised concerns that the animals were being deliberately targeted.
Pathan subsequently contacted PETA India and other animal welfare groups for assistance. Following the organisation’s advice, the bodies of the two cats found on September 6 were taken to an animal hospital in Parel for post-mortem examination and further investigation.
With the assistance of animal lover Pooja Srivastava, Pathan approached the RCF police station and submitted a formal complaint.
Police registered an FIR against an unidentified person under provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and other relevant legal sections. An investigation has been launched to identify the person or persons responsible for the deaths.
PETA India has urged the authorities to take swift action and examine CCTV footage from the area to identify the suspected perpetrator. The organisation said the discovery of nearly 20 dead or mutilated cats has caused considerable concern among animal feeders and residents.
Animal welfare advocates have also urged the police to determine whether the incidents are connected and investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Police are examining available CCTV footage, witness accounts and other evidence from the area as part of the ongoing investigation.