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Bolpur, March 12: A Birbhum trader today shot dead his neighbour’s dog after it allegedly ran away with a chicken from his house last night.
The death of Tom in Purandarpur comes about a year after another dog named Jerry was shot dead by a businessman for continuously barking at him in Surul, 20km away, sparking protests among residents who were led by actor and Trinamul MLA Debashree Roy.
Around 7am today, Joydeb Mahara, a primary school teacher, and his wife Deepa took their eight-month-old mongrel for a walk like any other day.
Their neighbour, Madhusudan Mondal, was also out for a morning walk when the couple met him on the road.
Joydeb and Deepa, who had walked a few metres ahead leaving Tom to wander in a nearby field, were jolted by the sound of a gun shot.
“We saw Tom lying on the ground with blood dripping from the left ear. We didn’t know what to do. We saw Madhusudan with a revolver and smoke coming out of it. We were shocked at the cruelty,” Joydeb said.
Madhusudan deals in motor parts.
The couple arranged for a car to take Tom to the Suri Veterinary Hospital, 20km away. But the dog died on the way.
Joydeb and Deepa have lodged a complaint with Suri police against the trader.
Birbhum superintendent of police Murlidhar said: “We have started an investigation.”
Asked why he killed Tom, Madhusudan said: “The dog had taken away a chicken from my house last night. It was a street dog and I was not sure if it had bitten any of the other birds in my house. I was scared that my poultry would get infected. That is why I shot the dog.”
A police officer in Suri said a case has been started under Section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming any animal) against Madhusudan. If proved guilty, he added, the trader could be jailed for up to five years.
According to the officer, a probe had been started to find out if the revolver Madhusudan used was licensed.
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