Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 13: Animal rights organization, 'People for Ethical Treatment Animals (PETA)', has decided to complain to Supreme Court that the buffaloes which participated in the Kambala held at Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada district on Saturday November 11 were subjected to violent lashes. PETA,which had shot photos and captured video footage of this flood-lit Kambala, claims to be having evidence for the violence inflicted on animals during the said Kambala.

This development has given rise to a apprehensions afresh in the minds of Kambala lovers. PETA has decided to submit five photos taken at the Kambala venue which was held near Kadalakere Nisargadhama, Moodbidri, in support of its claim. The petition filed by PETA seeking to annul the ordinance issued by Karnataka government allowing holding of Kambalas will be coming up for hearing in Supreme Court on Monday November 13.

Photos released by PETA

The Supreme Court, which had admitted the petition on November 6, had served notices for personal appearance of central and state governments in the court on Monday November 13 hearing. In a statement released to the media, PETA leader, Nikunj Sharma, said that the organization is convinced that buffaloes were hit and treated violently at the Kambala held on November 11.

"About a hundred buffaloes were forced to take part in the said buffalo race. They were hit with canes and their tails were pulled. The fact that several of the buffaloes were hit before participation in the Kambala was evidenced by the injury marks seen on their bodies. Even injured buffaloes were used for the races. The buffaloes, after finishing the race, had become breathless," he stated. He added that five to six persons were seen to be making an effort to bring the buffaloes under control by holding their reins tight and beating them up.

"They appeared like being under tremendous pressure. They were forcibly dragged into slushy field. In case of some buffaloes, twisted thick ropes were seen to have been inserted through their nostrils which naturally hurt them a lot. These buffaloes need protection by Supreme Court," a release issued on behalf of PETA stated.

In the meanwhile, convener of Kambala Academy, Gunapal Kadamba, asserted that animals were not treated violently at the Kambala at Moodbidri. He accused PETA of coming to the venue backed by prejudice, taking some pictures, giving them publicity on a large scale, and planning to block holding of Kambalas. "Kambala does not support expression of cruelty anywhere. There are many instances in which animals are handled in our country cruelly. PETA is better advised to concentrate on those flagrant violations," he said.

Ashok Rai, legal counsel for Kambala, said that Kambala activists too have prepared records to prove that nowhere animals were treated violently at the said Kambala. He said that these will be submitted to the Supreme Court during the hearing. He explained that as per the current instructions, representatives of police department and tahsildar of the taluk were present for monitoring the developments to ensure that Kambala was held strictly as per norms.