GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday, December 17, banned buffalo and bulbul bird fights in Assam, striking down a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the state government that allowed such events at specific times of the year.
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The ban comes after petitions were filed arguing that these fights violated core animal protection laws, according to a press release by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.
The court found the practices to be in contravention of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. PETA India presented evidence, including investigations into the cruelty inflicted on animals during these events.
The findings revealed that buffaloes were subjected to severe physical abuse, including being slapped, jabbed with sticks, and pulled by their nose ropes to force them into fights. Many buffaloes sustained injuries such as bleeding wounds on their necks, ears, and faces.
Similarly, bulbul birds, protected under Indian wildlife laws, were caught, drugged, and starved to provoke aggression. They were intoxicated with harmful substances to make them fight for food during these events.
The court referred to the Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment in the Animal Welfare Board of India vs. A. Nagaraja case, which banned all animal fights. PETA India’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate Diganta Das, also produced evidence that most fights took place beyond the dates specified in the SOP, rendering them illegal.