Nagpur : A joint team of Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) on Monday rescued more than 2,000 birds at Nagpur Railway Station. The birds were being transported to Mumbai from Howrah though Dyaneshwari Express in inhumane manner. An alert train passenger – Shubrat Das – he was travelling in 12102 Howrah-LTT Dnyaneshwari Express, noticed the love birds, white rabbits stuffed in cages and transported in SLR coach of the train. He immediately shot the video and sent it to twitter handle of Maharashtra Police which promptly alerted Nagpur Police for action. After receiving inputs from Nagpur Police, senior officials of RPF and GRP swung into action.
The staff reached Platform No. 8 when the train arrived at 5.20 pm. After discovering the birds stuffed in the cages, the cops asked officials of parcel department to unload the cages from the coach. Some animal activists who too got wind also turned up during the action. A veterinary doctors and Forest Department officials conducted health check-up of the birds and took into possession. A police official said, “When we seized the birds they were stuffed inside small cages and some of them had died due to suffocation.” The birds were being transported to Mumbai from West Bengal and collective cost of the birds is more than Rs 10 lakh.
The police seized 10 cages from the train and more than five birds were found dead in each cage. Forest officials and Animal activists will submit a detailed report to GRP and RPF on Tuesday. The officials of Parcel Department told the police officials and it is perfectly legal to transport birds on Railways. Till late in night discussions were on as to whether the birds can be impounded if they are being legally booked as luggage and carried on railways. An offence will be registered under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Sources informed that officials of Parcel Department of Railways would submit the names of the persons involved in the transportation of the birds. A team of Forest Department reached station and took custody the birds that were then taken to Seminary Hills Rescue Centre.
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