ODD ORDER Panchkula DCP prohibits animal feeding on national highway 73 to foil terrorists,criminals An IPS officer in Panchkula has invoked her magisterial powers to prohibit citizens from feeding monkeys and cattle on NH-73 because,she says,this can allow terrorists,criminals and anti-social elements to cause disruption in law and order and mislead the investigating agencies,and also endanger lives of people. Feeding monkeys and cattle could be used by terrorists to cause a riot,affray or disturb the public tranquility,says the order,issued by deputy commissioner of police,Panchkula,Parul Kush Jain. It does not explain exactly how the feeding of animals can facilitate major crime. What is easier to understand is the officers argument that feeding animals can be a road safety hazard. .A large number of persons stop their vehicles on National Highway 73 to feed monkeys/cows which gather because of easy availability of food. This gathering of cattle/monkeys as also the inappropriate stoppage of vehicles on the roadside greatly enhances the risk of traffic accidents., says the order. The order,issued under Section 144 CrPC,came into force yesterday. Its contents have been disseminated by publicity vans of the district information and public relations officer in Panchkula,and copies have been pasted on notice boards of police and government offices,courts and public places across the district. The prohibitory order shall remain in force until September 7. Violators will be punished under provisions of Sec 188 IPC,and can be sent to jail for between three and six months,and/or fined Rs 1,000. DCP Parul Kush and Commissioner of Police,Ambala-Panchkula Range K K Sharma were not available for a comment despite repeated phonecalls. They did not respond to text messages. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) M S Mann said,Though orders under Section 144 CrPC are issued routinely by officers,linking the feeding of monkeys and cattle with terrorists needs to be examined. I shall read the order tomorrow and examine how terrorists have been linked with such feeding.
