Four Indian activists were arrested for armed robbery after chasing down
and stopping a truck illegally carrying young cattle to a slaughterhouse.
According to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act of 1976, it is
illegal to slaughter cattle under 16 years of age. The truck driver's manner
of packing six cattle into his small vehicle was a further violation of law.
After stopping the truck, the activists called the police to report the
incident. The police instructed the men to take the truck to the nearest
station, where the truck driver accused them of physical assault and
robbery. Those accused of animal cruelty were booked under bailable
offenses, while the activists were booked under a non-bailable offense.
The Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act of 1976 states that a person
acting with clear intent to stop an act of animal cruelty cannot be
prosecuted. The activists clearly intended to help animals or they would not
have contacted police. Please urge the Khed Magistrate Court to free the
four activists.