Celebrities tell the After Hrs team that it’s criminal that the animal offenders who knowingly hurt a dog got away with a petty fine. They suggest punishments that ought to be meted out to them
DNA (July 9, 2016)

Two medical students — Gautam Sudarshan and Ashish Pal — one of whom heartlessly threw a dog off the terrace while the other one filmed the macabre incident, were arrested and then released on bail in Chennai.

The incident shook the nation. The dog is reported to have suffered two fractures, one in her right hind leg and another in her spine, and is now under treatment. She has been named Bhadra (which means blessed).

The men were charged with offences punishable with fines of `10 and `50 instead of jail time. Now the question remains: is the token bail amount enough punishment for the inhuman act?

“The Prevention of Cruelty Act is pretty outdated, it is a 1960 law and we want a change in that because they can just get away with a fine of `50,” said animal rights activist Shravan Krishnan to a news portal. The video went viral and has sparked a lot of outrage and debate on animal cruelty laws on social media. We ask celebrities from the world of art, media and entertainment about what punishment the culprits really deserve...

‘Stricter laws are needed’: Sooraj Pancholi, Actor
It’s ridiculous that the person who committed the crime has been let off so easily. Rs 50 cannot be the price of anyone’s life — human or animal. Even animals have emotions and feelings. Not only the people who committed the crime, but also the people who let them off so easily should be questioned. I am slowly losing my faith in humanity. I feel these offenders should be made to serve prison time. We need stricter laws for such heinous crimes. Throwing a dog off the terrace is as serious a crime as harming a human being.

‘Should’ve kept them in jail for a week’: Riteish Deshmukh, Actor
I know what the laws to punish humans for anti-social activities like robbery and murder are, but I don’t know what’s the law for protecting animals and for such offences. This is documented evidence where he’s showing off what he can do! The collective thoughts of everyone made sure these two people were caught. I think they should have been kept in jail at least for a week because everyone can see what they actually did. Two people wished the poor dog dead, but so many people thought together so it was alive. There’s a certain collective energy working here which created this miracle. Genelia and I were so happy when we heard the puppy was alive.

‘Force them to work in animal shelters’: Sunny Leone, Actress
I think the men in question should have to pay all the pup’s medical expenses. Furthermore, they should be forced to work in animal shelters under supervision for free to help them learn animal compassion.

‘Losing their friends would be the biggest punishment’: Suniel Shetty, Actor
We need to educate people about pets and how much they mean to us. According to me, these guys are mentally unstable. Their parents should take that into consideration and check out their mental stability. What promoted them to do such a crazy thing? Rather than punishing them we need to understand their state of mind and work on it. As the video went viral they must have lost all their friends and that would be their biggest punishment. To be shunned like this is shameful for them. As far as being let off too easy what can you do? It’s a mental issue... some people fear stray dogs which bark and throw stones at them. They need to keep this in check.

‘Jail is a good punishment’: Tusshar Kapoor, Actor
I thought it was really sad that humans have become so sadistic, especially with a creature that’s so selfless and unconditional in its love. I am glad that the animal is alive. I have heard that the two men are out in bail. If that’s true then what about animal rights? If Bollywood has to give disclaimers for even using an animal harmlessly, why are these people not put behind bars? Jail is a good punishment for animal abusers. I love animals and for me a Rs 50 fine is not enough.

‘Throw the guy off the roof: Dino Morea, Actor
Sick people like these need to be punished for taking out a life. It’s insensitive and inhuman to do such a thing. It’s ridiculous that he was let off for a sum of Rs 50. Punishment needs to be harsh because there will be more sick guys who will do similar thing and be let off for Rs 50. I’ve seen the video a few times and saw that the guy was enjoying doing such a thing as was the guy recording the footage. Jail this guy for a year or throw him off the roof! Only then he will understand the real effect of his actions.

‘Whatever acts as a deterrent...’: Pooja Bedi, Actor
As human beings we have responsibility not only towards mankind, but also towards animals, nature and the environment. Animals are living creatures and they have a right to co-exist, and any act of barbarity should be punished. Whatever acts as a deterrent should be encouraged, whether it’s a hefty monetary fine, serving prison time or even community service.

‘Get a strong message across that it’s wrong’: Rithvik Dhanjani, Actor
I am deeply saddened by what has happened. I feel defeated that I am part of such a species that thinks only humans are important. We are so self-centered that we think everybody other than humans is a threat to us. What is alarming is that they attempted such a crime. Bawaal machna chahiye jo nahi hua. Also, how do you decide the price of a dog is Rs 50? That’s how cheap life is! In an alternative world, imagine you throw a human being and pay a fine of Rs 200. If it comes to me I will probably throw them down four-five floors and pay a fine of Rs 5000. I am not the one to decide the punishment, but there is a need of some sort of payback from those guys. And it shouldn’t be monetary. We have to figure out how we should get across a strong message that this is wrong. I cannot do much, but at least I can speak my heart out against it.

‘Throw them from the same spot’: Sanjay Gupta, Filmmaker
I saw the video and found it very upsetting and disturbing. The right thing to do is throw them from the same spot! I would have done it myself and then paid whatever fine was required. The animal laws have to change. It’s not about letting them off easy or anything... Letting them go with Rs 50 fine is ridiculous, it’s a joke!

‘...higher bail and jail time’: Diandra Soares, Model
I am in shock hearing about the Rs 50 fine. I definitely feel that the medical school should remove both of them. I understand that people at times make mistakes, but these two men were not uneducated kids. It’s very sad that in our country we don’t have strict laws for animal abuse. This case demands for a stricter punishment. If I meet this guy I think I might push him off a terrace myself. They should have been given a much higher bail amount and some jail time as well. I wouldn’t mind starting a movement for a harsher punishment. An example needs to be set.

‘There should be a national reaction against it’: Ruslaan Mumtaz, Actor
In India, people take life of humans and animals very lightly. India is supposedly the most religious and spiritual country. I am really disappointed that even today, our country does not do anything and lets go of all kinds of crimes. That’s the sad part. In this case, I honestly feel all the animal activists should come together and fight. They will not allow this person to go with the fine of Rs 50. There should be a national reaction against it.

‘They should be rusticated, not just suspended’: Mini Mathur, TV host
One can’t equate this act of throwing a dog from a terrace with the act of throwing a stone on a dog — it’s not the same kind of cruelty to animals. This case should be a wake up call to reform the law. It shows mental derangement, it’s a premeditated act of sadism. According to me the men should be arrested. They should also be rusticated and not just suspended from medical college. Such people are dangerous criminals and shouldn’t be allowed to treat humans and become doctors. They should be put behind bars and booked under sadism and unnatural acts. I sincerely hope some revocation to the Rs 50 fine is given and that they are ridiculed in public.

‘This crime was equivalent to manslaughter’: Divya Palat, Theatre actor and director
I think the best punishment for these men is imprisonment. If you are caught trying to murder someone you would be jailed. This crime was equivalent to manslaughter. I think we live in such a horrific world that anything perceived to be weaker whether it’s animals or women are hurt, beaten or raped. And we are okay with it? Animals should have the same rights as human beings. The dog hadn’t done anything wrong. Also, how much of a psychopath do you have to be to do something like this! And to think the man might become a doctor someday. The magnitude of the crime is deplorable. Such people who are let off for Rs 50 will do it again and again. Forget the law, there has to be some humanity left.

‘Usse lakhon logon ki baddua lagegi’: Ravi Dubey, TV actor
I think for somebody who is being inhuman, harming either a person or an animal, there has to be a much bigger punishment. I have a dog and I consider him my son. He is a part of my family. It was infuriating to watch that video, I wanted to put my opinion online. It is ridiculous after such a huge hue and cry, that guy was let off with a fine of just Rs 50. It was a cold-blooded act — he has no respect for life. I don’t know what the ideal punishment should be, but it should send across a strong message to someone who intends doing something like that to retain and sustain their humanity. He has been let off but usko lakhon logon ki baddua lagegi.

‘He is sick and should be in jail’: Mahhi Vij, Actress
If that man could do this to a dog, he can do it to a human too. His mindset is not right. He is sick and should be in jail. The problem is, we don’t have laws for such kind of things in India. I had a poodle and two drunkards driving a car ran over it when it was sitting at the corner of the gate. When I went to file a complaint, the cops told me that I can’t because nothing like that exists. Americans have a better system and laws against such cruelties. Animals also have a heart. They can’t speak, but that doesn’t mean you treat them inhumanly.

‘Consider it an attempt to murder...’: Jay Bhanushali, Actor
It is saddening that just for Facebook likes and YouTube hits, people are doing these kind of things. I think people who do this to animals should get the same punishment if they had done it to humans. It should be considered an attempt to murder. Otherwise, this will keep happening. At least, in the metros we need to change laws in favour of animal rights. And as Mahii said, an incident happened with our dog Angel and after fighting with the cops to file a complaint, I realised that since there are no laws, nothing can be done.

‘Nothing less than life imprisonment’: Rahul Da Cunha, Theatre personality
I feel people like the two accused who harm animals for fun, deserve nothing less than life imprisonment. And in the case of the BJP minister who attacked a horse who later succumbed to his injuries, to begin with, he should have at least been removed from the party.