An FIR has been registered against an individual after four neglected and extremely emaciated horses were found in Sewri by an activist. One of the animals died two days after they were shifted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) cattle pound in Malad for treatment.

Speaking about how the matter came to light, Saloni Sakaria, lead cruelty response coordinator at PETA India,  told mid-day she received information on June 19 about a horse collapsing on Bombay Port Trust Road under the Eastern Freeway in Sewri around 6.30 pm. “I immediately rushed to the spot. Sewri residents informed that the horse had collapsed on the main road and was later moved about 50 metres away by its owner and a few others. The horse was standing when I reached the spot, but there was no owner present. A horse collapsing on the street is a horrible sign, as they are extremely strong animals,” Sakaria said.

On June 21, a complaint was filed at the Sewri police station. “I told them the horse was found in a miserable condition, kept illegally by the railway tracks without a shed, water or food, and even after collapsing, it was not taken to a hospital. The owner was not at all responsible,” she added.