Mumbai: Upset with pet being taken away, teen overdoses on mother’s meds

Singh`s daughter is in a stable condition at a Jogeshwari hospital

Unable to cope with the troubles of her family since their dog was taken away by people who posed as animal activists, the 16-year-old daughter of Dhoom Singh consumed her mother's blood pressure medicine and has been admitted to a hospital. mid-day had reported on how Dhoom Singh, 47, an ayurvedic medicine seller, had lodged a complaint accusing a woman and her accomplices of forcibly taking his pet female German Shepherd away, posing as animal activists. The MIDC police had booked Hema Chaudhary and two others.

Jimmy, the female dog which was taken away by the ‘activist'

Singh and his family have alleged harassment by the accused who has not been arrested, or forced to give them their dog back. Singh has alleged that since he lodged the police complaint against the accused, they have been forcing him to leave the city. He said they have also complained to the police and the MIDC traffic division police were forcing him to move his vehicle from the spot. Singh has been selling herbs from his van at Andheri.

He said, "Twice I visited the MIDC traffic office where the official showed me photos of my vehicle and my pet dog Jimmy, and pressured me to remove the vehicle immediately. They said they are under duress from their senior officials as the accused complained to them." "The traffic police asked us to move the car. I told them the matter had not been resolved so I could not leave. They told me to make arrangements at some other place because since they had a complaint, they would have to take action. So I decided to leave Mumbai," he added.

He said on Monday he went to Palghar to see a place where he could do business. "When I returned in the evening I started feeling unwell. As my wife was already ill, I asked my daughter to cook. But she suddenly fainted. I poured some water on her face, when she came to her senses she said since the whole family was sad because of Jimmy, and we had fallen sick, she was very upset and consumed two strips of her mother's blood pressure medicine," Singh said. Singh took her to the Trauma hospital, Jogeshwari where her condition is stable he said. He also said officials from MIDC police visited her in the hospital.

Police could act

When contacted, a traffic officer said the van was not a vehicle as it has been converted into a shop and stood at one place for several days. So whenever they get a complaint regarding such a vehicle, they act against it. "Our staff directed the vehicle owner to shift it to some other place. But if we receive the complaint again, we will take appropriate action," said Senior Inspector Ashok Ghuge of MIDC traffic police.

Dhoom Singh says the traffic police want him to move his medicine van

Advocate speaks

Singh's advocate, Reena Richard said his daughter was disturbed after seeing her father search for a new place to do business and the continuouss visit of the police and the accused. "The traffic police officer of the Andheri division has threatened to penalise Singh for traffic rule violation of keeping his van on the roadside. The MIDC police have not taken custody of the dog till date. The dog was admitted to BSPCA by one Durga Rai. The inaction of the MIDC police speaks volumes of the fact that only the rich, powerful and influential people will get justice from the police," Richard said.

She said Chaudhary and the accused want a cross FIR to be filed so Singh will leave the city. She said, "I complained on behalf of Singh to the higher police authorities by pointing out the intentional omissions by MIDC police in the case. They did not add a section related to the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe ( prevention of atrocity) Act in it."