RAHIM YAR KHAN: Cruelty to animals and gambling over dog and bear fight incidents are increasing in rural areas of the district.

Police allegedly look the other way after getting their share and the gamblers and organisers also take advantage of a lack of vigilance of departments concerned.

Khanpur tehsil’s areas such as Zahirpir, Fatehpur, Tranda Madhu and Joiward and Liaquatpur’s Pakka Laaran, Fatehpur Kamal and Thal Hamza are considered safe havens for animal fights.

In a recent incident, a fight between a tied bear and more than six dogs was held at Mauza Taranda Madhu, arranged by Ghulam Haider Bohar, Sajjad, Faiz Ahmed, Afzal Bhaya and Bani Laar. The fight began early in the morning outside an open field in front of Bohar’s house and concluded after 10am. During the fight, more than six dogs were unleashed on a roped bear and the spectators gambled and earned bucks. Some people shared video clips of the fight on social media.

Livestock Deputy Director Dr Tahir Gulzar said the department had special staff to check cruelty on animals but they mainly focused on kilns where donkeys were a victim to overloading. He said he would inquire into the animal fights.

Police spokesperson Saif Ali Wains said they could not intervene in these fights without any instruction from the livestock and wildlife departments. He said police could conduct a raid at a place on the complaint of gambling.

Still, he said, police would arrest those involved in illegal dog and bear fight and register cases under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Prevention of Gambling Act.

DPO Akhtar Farooq said the Zahirpir police had arrested Zawar and Rasheed who were involved in organising a fight.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2022