Community rallies in Gangtok against cruelty to animals

<p class="15"><b><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';mso-ansi-font-weight:bold;font-size:12.0000pt;">GANGTOK,:</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;">&nbsp;In the wake of recent incidents of cruelty against animals, specifically the July 19 incident when a stray dog was fatally shot on Kazi Road, animal rights activists and supporters carried out a rally from Zero Point to MG Marg on Sunday to condemn the incident, raise awareness on animal rights and advocate for the protection of street dogs and animals.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="15"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;">Themed “Compassion Over Cruelty,” the rally was organised by The Guardian, PFA Sikkim and Citizens Animal Shelter and drew participants from across the capital including families, students and concerned citizens.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="15"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;">The rally highlighted the importance of sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which provide for punishment for acts of cruelty towards animals. The participants also emphasized section 325 of the Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita, which stipulates that anyone who harms or kills an animal could face up to five years in prison or a hefty fine.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="15"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;">Karma Youtso, a devoted animal lover, stressed the importance of not taking animals for granted. “People can't take animals for granted,” she said, highlighting the rally’s central message of protecting street dogs and other animals from unnecessary abuse.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="15"><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;">The event concluded with a candlelight ceremony where participants lit candles to honour the memory of animals that have suffered due to human cruelty.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes';font-family:'Bookman Old Style';mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12.0000pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

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