In a shocking and horrific incident reported from Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, an endangered Gangetic dolphin was beaten to death by three men who used axes and sticks to maul the mammal.
This insensitive act took place after the dolphin had strayed into the Sharada canal in Kothariya village under Nawabganj police station in Pratapgarh district.
A video that has now gone viral on social video showed a group of men hitting the dolphin with sticks and other blunt objects, leading to blood oozing out of its body.
*Trigger Warning: Video contains graphic images*
On New Year's eve, a #dolphin was brutally murdered by people in Sharda canal of Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh area. These are rare dolphins of the Ganges who are on the verge of extinction. Shame #SaveThePlanet #Nature #Ganga #AnimalCruelty pic.twitter.com/w3zNQbEHu5
— Karan Bhardwaj (@BornOfWeb) January 8, 2021
According to the Pratapgarh police, the incident took place on December 31 and a case has been filed against the three people and they have been sent to jail. Moreover, further legal action is being taken into consideration regarding the case.
The Pratapgarh police tweeted, “the said incident is dated 31.12.2020, in this regard, 03 accused have been arrested and sent to jail, other legal proceedings are being taken.”
उक्त घटना दिनांक 31.12.2020 की है, इस सम्बन्ध में मुकदमा पंजीकृत कर 03 अभियुक्तों को गिरफ्तार कर जेल भेजा जा चुका है, अन्य विधिक कार्यवाही की जा रही है।
— PRATAPGARH POLICE (@pratapgarhpol) January 8, 2021
Under Section 9/51 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, killing a Gangetic river dolphin is considered as a punishable offence.
The Gangetic Dolphins are recognised as the National Aquatic Mammals and are one of the rare mammal species that are endangered in India due to rampant hunting incidents.
The killing of the Gangetic dolphin comes three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech announced Project Dolphin for the conservation of the aquatic mammals.