Eight donkeys ‘released’ from jail on Monday

KANPUR: In a bizarre case, eight donkeys were lodged for nearly four days in Orai jail in Jalaun district. They were ‘released’ from jail on Monday following intervention of a local BJP leader.

Their ‘crime’ was that they allegedly ate up saplings planted in the residential block of district jail premises under ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’. The authorities said the donkeys belonging to Kamlesh, a local, on November 24 had devoured costly saplings and other crops.

Following instructions of senior jail authorities , the eight donkeys were rounded up and ‘lodged’ in district jail. “These donkeys ate and damaged very expensive plants worth Rs 60,000. Kamlesh, their owner, despite repeated warnings, let loose his animals. On November 24, following instructions of our seniors, we lodged the donkeys in the jail,” said R K Mishra, a head constable at Orai jail.

When Kamlesh launched a frantic search, he learnt that his donkeys were lodged at district jail on the charge of destroying saplings.

Kamlesh visited the district jail and met senior officials, including jail superintendent Sita Ram Sharma, pleading them to release his donkeys, but they refused and asked him to come later. The donkeys were held in the jail for four days.

Failing to get assurance from jail officials, Kamlesh met a local BJP leader and requested him to intervene. The leader accompanied Kamlesh to district jail and managed to secure release of the donkeys.

Orai jail superintendent Sita Ram Sharma said: “There is no such law wherein we can arrest donkeys. They were confined for four days to teach a lesson to their owner who did not pay attention to our warnings. We let go of the animals on Monday only after Kamlesh gave us a written affidavit that from now on he will not allow his animals to roam in residential areas or places of public importance.”

These donkeys had, on many occasions, caused road mishaps in the area, Sharma claimed.

