Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, Jan 6: Members of Zilla Kambala Samithi (Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod Districts) have decided to file a counter complaint at the high court against Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) inspectors for raising objection for insignificant issues and registration of non-cognizable offence cases.

So far, 65 non -cognizable offences and one first Information report (FIR) on a cognizable offence were filed during Baradi, Mulky and Surathkal Kambalas.

The AWBI claimed that all the three kambala events inspected by AWBI apparently violated a Supreme Court ruling and several laws, including sections of the Indian Penal Code, The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Transport of Animals on Foot) Rules, 2001, Transport of Animals Rules, 1978, the Prevention of Cruelty to Drought and Pack Animals Rules, 1965, and the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001.

The violations at the Surathkal kambala according to the AWBI are that no animals used in kambala events were registered with the AWBI, many buffaloes had two or three tight-fitting, 2 to 2.5-centimeter-thick nose ropes inserted through a hole in the nasal septum, causing tremendous distress and pain.

Some buffaloes even had a nose ring, along with the thick nose ropes, which was used to cause pain when they resisted. People frequently pulled and yanked the ropes in order to drag the animals to the starting point of the race and position them to run. In some buffaloes, the nose ropes were covered with a plastic tube which can easily become painfully hot during the day, causing distress to the animals. Some buffaloes had extensive nose wounds, including from previous injuries that had healed, which were caused by abrasive and thick nose ropes and violent pulling. Buffaloes were subjected to violent acts, including being hit on the body, being slapped on the face and having their tails pulled.

According to PETA India Director of Veterinary Affairs Dr Manilal Valliyate "In kambala events, buffaloes are subjected to fear, pain, discomfort and distress when they are forced to run. The findings of the inspection teams during last three Kambalas proved beyond doubt that cruelty is inherent in such events and no regulation can protect animals from abuse."

Samiti President Bhaskar Kotian who refuted these charges said "From the day the high court had allowed kambala through a recent interim order, it has become a prestige issue for the AWBI and hence they are trying all their power to see to it the kambala is banned again. Thus, even trivial issues are being blown out of proportion."

"In fact we have been organizing modified kambala wherein the whip is used by the jockeys symbolically and not to hit the buffaloes. Whipping buffaloes is a violation of rule according to the modified kambala. Further if jockeys are found whipping, then they will be banned from the sport. Thus, the jockeys are now scared to whip the animals," he added.

"Furthermore tahsildars, officials from police department and animal husbandry department are present during kambala. These officials themselves have acknowledged that animals are not treated cruelly. When such is the case we don’t understand how can the activists claim that the animals are ill-treated?" Bhaskar questioned.