Horse’s leg amputated, BJP worker arrested

Army doctors attending on Shaktiman, the horse who was injured after being hit by a BJP worker in Dehradun, have amputated his leg.

A BJP worker, identified as Pramod Bora, has been arrested from Hald-wani in Nainital district for forcefully pulling the bridle of the horse and causing its fall at the protest venue on March 14 and leaving it injured. Mr Bora was arrested from Mukhani area of Haldwani on a requisition by the Dehradun police. According to reports, the horse was in pain and unable to stand. Doctors and veterinary experts took the decision that amputation was the only option left.

A team of doctors from Pune which examined Shaktiman on Thursday were of the opinion that its fractured hind leg will have to be amputated to save its life.

Meanwhile, on reports that summons were issued to BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi in connection with the attack that left the horse injured, the Uttarakhand DGP B.S. Sidhu said that the investigating officer alone was competent to issue summons. Investigating officer Arun Pandey neither denied nor confirmed having issued summons to the MLA.

When the MLA reportedly attacked the horse from the front, Shaktiman fell with its entire weight on its hind quarters under the combined impact of Mr Joshi’s frontal attack with a lathi and Mr Bora pulling up its reins from one side.

Shaktiman was allegedly attacked during the march. The animal suffered fractures in one of his hind legs during the protest.

An FIR has already been lodged at Nehru Colony police station against Mr Joshi and his associates. Meanwhile, chief minister Harish Rawat also expressed concern over the horse’s condition.

The BJP has been demanding withdrawal of the cases lodged against its workers, including MLA Joshi.

However, the Chief Minister has refused to withdraw the cases and said that he does not believe in interfering in police investigations.