33 illegal pigeon kabutarbaazi race events stopped in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, in coordination with senior police officials, has managed to get stopped 33 illegal pigeon (kabutarbaazi) race events in 20 districts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

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Recently, three events were halted this week in Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana and Sangrur.

In its complaint, PETA India pointed out that according to a December 2020 letter sent to the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) had opined that essentially all animal races, including kabutarbaazi, were prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, and had declared similar events illegal. The letter warned that conducting such spectacles amounted to contempt of court and urged the withdrawal of any permissions or directions for such activities to ensure compliance with the law.

Additionally, such events violated multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the PCA Act, 1960, which prohibited inflicting unnecessary suffering on animals.

The complaint also pointed out that the PCA Act, 1960, particularly Section 11(1) (m) (ii), criminalised inciting animals to fight with other animals (kabutarbaazi involves inciting groups of pigeons to compete).