An app cab driver has been arrested for allegedly running over a stray dog, twice, on a road at Baghajatin on Thursday night.
The driver, identified as Anil Yadav, has been booked under IPC sections related to rash and negligent driving and maiming of animals.
Nilanjana Sengupta, a young professional and a resident of Baghajatin, had been feeding the 13-year-old stray, Jimmy, for over a decade.
"That night was no exception. It was around 10.50pm on Thursday when this car came speeding through an empty road and ran over Jimmy. Jimmy was sitting on the road, but there was ample space for the car to go past him without hurting him. But this man chose to drive over Jimmy," Sengupta said.
A CCTV footage has emerged that shows the app cab running over a dog sitting on the road. The footage shows the car had paused after a front wheel went over the dog before moving again, resulting in the animal getting a crushed again, this time by a rear wheel.
Nilanjana and a few neighbours who apparently saw the incident succeeded in stopping the car by blocking its way. They called the police and handed over the driver to the cops.
Nilanjana and her friends have been feeding strays in their localities for many years now.
One of her friends, Shreemoyee Chakraborty, a research scholar at Jadavpur University, was the first to reach the spot on Thursday night after being alerted by Nilanjana.
"By the time I reached, Nilanjana had got hold of the man.... There was enough space for the car to move past the animal without harming him. It's not that Jimmy suddenly came in front of the car. He was calmly sitting on the road. The driver could have easily avoided the accident," Shreemoyee said.
Nilanjana and Shreemoyee arranged an ice box to preserve Jimmy's body.
The next day the body was taken to the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Surgical in Belgachhia for a post-mortem.
Officers of Patuli police station said the post-mortem report was yet to come.
Yadav, 36, the accused driver, was produced in court and granted bail, the police said.
"We have initiated an investigation into the matter," said a senior officer of the south suburban division. The app cab has been impounded by the police.
