Animal Rescue squad members demand safety and protection

Goemkarponn desk
PONDA: Animal Rescue Squad Chief Charan Desai has condemned the attack on members and demanded protection from its members from attackers.
Desai said the members risked their lives and rescued around 4500 snakes in a year and other wild animals straying in the residential area and submitted our report to Amruth Sing, our chief, and information to Forest.
As per forest rule, those animals rescued should be released in four-five km of the same area.
“Here our members while returning from Usgao after rescuing snake had taken stop at Kerya which is a non-residential area, and even though they have not released the rescued snake which was Cobra and protected animal under forest act, the two villagers at the spot on suspicion that they would release the snake at Kerya started attacking rescuers Mohan Gaude and his colleague. They also threatened and abused,” he said.
Desai said that Mohan was attacked with a helmet on his head and received stitches.
The accused even made video of their own actions, which is proof of the incident.
Desai said if these two villagers found anything objectionable, they were free to complain to the Forest department and Police but instead took law in hand, assaulted our team members, and even killed the snake in the bag.
“If this continues and people behave violently, how can we rescue animals straying in houses of people?” he questioned.
“Public, NGO, Panchayat, Government and Forest should understand our sole motto is to rescue animals. So Forest personnel must accompany our members or take possession of stray animals to be released at a suitable place by Forest Department,” he said.
He said rescuing stray animals and releasing them has become serious, serious issue which government should handle.
It may be recalled that on 19 SeptAnimal Rescue squad members were attacked at Kerya Khandepar.
Ponda police arrested two Kerya accused based on video of the attack.
In a strange incident, Animal Rescue squad( ARS) members attacked Kerya Khandepar on suspicion that they had come to release the snake caught and rescued by them at Kerya close to a residential area. The Ponda police arrested two accused based on a complaint by ARS members and a video of the incident shot by the accused.