NGO urges cops to confiscate ‘abused frogs

BHOPAL: An animal rights group based in Haryana has lodged a complaint with Madhya Pradesh police , seeking an FIR against minister of state for woman and child development Lalita Yadav for organising a wedding of two frogs at a temple in Chhatarpur to appease rain gods. Hundreds of people were part of the wedding that was followed by a feast.Calling it an act of cruelty, activist Naresh Kadyan has petitioned police to trace and confiscate the “forcibly wedded amphibians” and keep them in their protection as evidence until the trial is over.Kadyan, of the NGO Scouts and Guides for Animals and Birds, says the minister’s conduct is liable for imprisonment up to three years and has urged chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to “take necessary action”. Wedding of frogs is one of the bizarre yet common rituals in parts of MP when monsoon gets delayed and the land is parched.An entire village may stand under a tree on one leg or women may marry women in the hope of placating the rain gods.Kadyan’s heart goes out to the two frogs that were wed amid much fanfare in Chhatarpur on Friday. Minister Lalita Yadav had given her blessings to the newly weds, and hoped it would led to the rain gods blessing Madhya Pradesh.Kadyan alleges both frogs were “mishandled, adopting cruel and abusive manner”. This is in violation of Section 3, 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, read with 120-B, 428, 429 of IPC, says the organisation in its complaint to MP grievance redressal cell and Kotwali police station, Chhatarpur. “An FIR may be lodged against the event organizers along with promoters of the cruel event, including Lalita Yadav, who breached the trust of public read with Article 51 A (g) of Indian Constitution,” says the complaint.“Lalita Yadav was present at the ceremony in Chhatarpur city. I have seen her going on record on TV, claiming that the ritual was performed for drought-hit region of Bundelkhand. So, she has already admitted what was done,” Kadyan told TOI on Monday.The NGO has requested police to “confiscate the abused frogs as case property” and keep them in an infirmary. “Such illegal events set bad examples before our children,” it says.