BATHINDA: A brazen attempt to publicise illegal dog fights in a town in Punjab led the police to register a rare FIR against the organisers on Friday. Unknown persons had put up posters in Moga district’s Nihal Singh Wala town on Wednesday asking people to send in their entries. The fights were to be organised on Friday.Police officials told TOI that this could be the first instance of a case being registered against illegal dog fights in the state under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.Although no one was named in the poster, it gave two cell numbers to contact the organisers. Police officials believe that the fights may have been cancelled once the case was registered as the two cell numbers were switched off when TOI tried to call on them.Shiv Kaushal, noted dog trainer from Chandigarh, said, “Dog fights are very common in rural Punjab and betting also takes place. Breeds like the Pitt Bull and Pakistan Bully are specially reared for this and the animals are treated very cruelly. There have also been instances where dogs have been killed in a fight. Although no one has been booked for organising such fights, you can find the videos easily on social media.”For Friday’s fight, the entry fee had been fixed at Rs 500 per dog. The posters also promised attractive prizes for the winners.Sources said that local residents informed Union minister Maneka Gandhi after seeing the posters and her office alerted the state government after which the case was registered.The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 bars inciting or baiting animals into fighting. Receiving money or allowing any place to be used for such fights too is illegal.Veterinary officer at Nihal Singh Wala, Dr Sukhwinder Singh , said, “I tried to reach the organisers after getting a call from the Moga deputy commissioner but failed to do so as there were no names and no details of the venue on the poster. All it said was that the fights would be organised within two to three km of the town. Police registered a case on my complaint.”Nihal Singh Wala police station SHO Dilbagh Singh said, “We are trying to track down the organisers.”

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