KATHMANDU, APRIL 14
The saying 'every dog has his day' came true for Khaire, sadly, after its death when hundreds of young activists, animal lovers, and animal rights promoters joined a protest held today at Maitighar Mandala against its killing in Dhulikhel on April 12.
A video of Khaire being hit by an iron rod and a shovel had gone viral on social media.
In the video, two men tied Khaire to an electricity utility pole and hit it several times till it died. The men killed Khaire after it injured a local boy who was trying to feed it peanuts.
Condemnations poured in as the video got viral. It led to a public petition -- 'justice for Khaire' -- calling animal lovers to join the protest.
That, in turn, brought hundreds of animal lovers and right activists to the streets of Kathmandu, some with their pets and others with placards reading 'Justice for Khaire', 'Say no to animal cruelty', and 'Stop turning blind eye to animal cruelty'.
In Nepal, violence against animals in a punishable crime. Killing of a community dog, such as Khaire, can attract a jail sentence up to three months and a fine up to Rs 5,000.
Shristi Singh Shrestha, an animal rights activist and vice-chairman of Animal Nepal, said, the Dhulikhel incident should be used to spread awareness against cruelty to animals. She said it should prompt government into action. "Sadly, many government authorities are unaware that there are rules against animal cruelty.
Many officials laugh at us when we go to file charges against those indulging in animal cruelty."
There is a ring of truth to what Shrestha is saying, as authorities have not yet made any arrest in the Dhulikhel incident, although those indulging in violence against Khaire can be easily recognised in the video that has gone viral.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 15, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
