People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, in coordination with senior police officials in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, has successfully intervened to stop 33 illegal pigeon race events — kabutarbaazi — in 20 districts over the past two months. The most recent three events were halted this week in Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana and Sangrur.
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In its complaint, PETA India pointed out that according to a December 2020 letter sent to the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) had opined that essentially all animal races are prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, and has declared similar events illegal. The letter warned that conducting such spectacles amounted to contempt of court and urged the withdrawal of any permissions or directions for such activities to ensure compliance with the law. Additionally, such events violate multiple provisions of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the PCA Act, 1960, which prohibit inflicting unnecessary suffering on animals.
The complaint also pointed out that the PCA Act, 1960, particularly Section 11(1)(m)(ii), criminalises inciting animals to fight with other animals.
In the landmark 7 May 2014 judgment of Animal Welfare Board of India vs A Nagaraja & Ors, the Supreme Court clarified that activities such as animal racing come within the purview of animal fights, as they involve forcing them into competitive and harmful situations, akin to incitement to fight with other animals.
“Pigeons feel pain and fear just like humans, and they don’t want to be captured, imprisoned, or exploited as props in people’s games,” said PETA India legal advisor and director of cruelty response, Meet Ashar. “We commend the Punjab police — particularly Amardeep Singh Rai, IPS, Additional Director General of Police (Traffic) — and the Chandigarh and Haryana Police for their decisive action to uphold the law and protect these birds from abuse. We also urge authorities to identify and penalise the organisers of the events, ensure any further permissions are revoked, and that no similar events are allowed in the future.” he added.
Pigeons used in kabutarbaazi are often confined in cramped, filthy cages and coops, resulting in stress and encouraging disease. During transportation, birds are often packed tightly in wire cages or cardboard boxes, restricting movement, causing injuries and even suffocation. Reportedly, they are also often drugged with opium.
PETA India encourages citizens to report such racing events by sharing any evidence, including videos, photos, promotional posters, social media posts or links, and location details, with their respective district police chief and Deputy Commissioner, urging them to take action under relevant animal protection and public order laws. Additionally, sharing this information with animal protection organisations such as PETA India supports ongoing efforts to ensure effective enforcement and protect these animals.
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