Dog Lovers vs Dog haters in D Block of New Friends Colony, New Delhi

On the 24th of January, 2021 a hysterical mob led by the D Block Residents Welfare Association (RWA) stole 6 kennels, fifteen mattresses and blankets and destroyed 2 shelters. This was the second such assault. The earlier one was on the 12th of January, 2021. After complaints to the Police from both sides the police filed a complaint for breach of peace. This complaint is here:

Following this a court case started. Yet, the so called President of the New Friends Colony D Block RWA wrote in a WhatsApp message yesterday (3rd of January, 2022) that a court case had been filed by my wife and I against him and Ms. Ritika Gupta, the so called secretary of the D Block, RWA. This is a deliberate lie- typical of the kind that dog haters spread. His message is here:

Below is the affidavit given by Ms. Divya Puri, Sardar Inderjit Singh and Shobhana Bhattacharji: Reply in Case # 1233/R-SEM/SED dated Delhi the 19/6/2021 In the Court of Smt. Surinder Jeet Kaur S.E.M/South East Distt. Police Station, Amar Colony, New Delhi- Case number 1233/R-SEM/SED dated 19/6/2021, Delhi relates to an incident that occurred on 24th of January, 2021 in D Block, New Friends Colony (NFC), New Delhi 110025. In this, an abusive shouting D Block RWA mob stole boxes and destroyed shelters for dogs. The case u/s 107/11 & 113 of Cr. P.C. has been registered by the NFC Police Station. A complaint (Annexure 6) was lodged by Smt. Shobhana Bhattacharji (73years) of D 1008, NFC on the 24th January, 2021 with the SHO, NFC Police Station after the above incident. This was entirely ignored by the SHO. This incident of stealing boxes and destroying shelters followed an earlier one on the morning of the 12th of January, 2021. At that time Shri Ashish Gujral of D 1080, NFC (president of the so called RWA, D Block, NFC) along, most probably, with Shri Upadhya, Inspector, MCD South, lifted boxes and two shelters from D Block, NFC. Three pictures (# 1, 2 & 3) of some of these boxes and shelters that were lifted and destroyed are given below:

Picture # 1

Picture # 2

Picture # 3 This removal and destruction on 12th of January was immediately reported (Annexure 1) to Smt. Maneka Gandhi (MP and Minister) by the Late Smt. Arti Puri of Karan Puri Foundation an Animal Protection NGO and also founder of the NFC Dog Lovers Group. The result of the intervention by the Hon’ble Minister was that on the 14th of January, Shri Upadhya, Inspector, (allegedly the same one who had removed the boxes etc at the instigation of Shri Ashish Gujral r/o D 1080, NFC) MCD South himself came to Smt. Shobhana Bhattacharji’s house at D 1008, NFC to give fifteen blankets and mattresses. Below are two photographs of him giving the above (pictures # 4 & 5).

Pictures # 4 & 5 As it was the coldest time of winter, we again got six boxes (Picture # 6) and two shelters for the strays made.

Picture # 6 On the 24th of January, 2021 a mob of more than 40 people was collected by the RWA, D Block. It was led by Smt. Ritika Gupta, some kind of an office bearer of the so called D Block RWA. They forcibly stole the new boxes and blankets and mattresses given by Shri Upadhya and destroyed the shelters, and packed them into a truck # HR 55M 4133 hired by the D Block RWA (Pictures # 7 & 8). All this during fore noon and afternoon. Theft is an illegal act. Yet the SHO in his report (pgs. 6 & 7 below) to the Lt. Governor said that there was no theft.

Pictures # 7 & 8 Smt. Shobhana Bhattacharji, on hearing of this theft, ran out of her house, and was met by a screaming shouting mob in Lane # 1. She then asked her friend the late Smt. Arti Puri and her daughter Ms. Divya Puri of C Block, NFC to come and help. The main accusation by the police that Smt. Shobhana Bhattacharji, the Late Mrs. Arti Puri and Ms. Divya Puri were shouting loudly and quarrelled with “Ashish Gupta” is false. No attempt was made to enquire into the complaint made by Smt. Shobhana Bhattacharji of the 24th of January (Annexure 6). They just took notice of only allegations made by the RWA. None of the many photographs and videos that had been given to the SHO, NFC PS were verified. Moreover, this case has a crucial mistake. There is no Ashish Gupta. There is a Shri Ashish Gujral, President of the so called RWA D Block, and there is a Smt. Ritika Gupta of the same RWA and an office bearer. This sloppy FIR just shows that the NFC Police did not investigate the case at all. The RWA had no authority whatsoever to steal these boxes. The SHO not wishing to blame the RWA, for whatever reason, wrote (reproduced below on pg. 6 & 7) to the Lt. Governor’s office that the MCD had removed them. This was a brazen lie. Action has to be taken against the D Block RWA for this theft. The defendants (including me) were surrounded, in Lane # 1 of D Block, New Friends Colony, by a shouting and screaming mob raised by the D Block RWA. Only the mob can be heard shouting and screeching in the video attached in the pen drive. The three of us were speaking calmly. None of us ever shouted. The notice wrongly accuses Mrs. Shobhana Bhattacharji, the Late Mrs. Arti Puri and Ms. Divya Puri of shouting loudly and quarrelling and disturbing peace with a so called “Ashish Gupta” and others over the issue of feeding dogs. We have been feeding stray dogs peacefully according to the instructions of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). Some residents of D Block have been objecting to our feeding strays for many years. Last year the interference and harassment became so much that Shri Romesh Bhattacharji husband of Smt. Shobhana Bhattacharji complained to the SHO, NFC Thana on 16th July, 2020 (Annexure 2). Along with this was attached the relevant animal protection laws. Harassment continued for some time and then died down. A month earlier Ms. Divya Puri complained to the AWBI of a dog in Lane 1 of D Block, NFC being so badly injured that he had to be hospitalised at Friendicoes- an NGO running a hospital in Lajpat Nagar. The letter dated 22nd of June, 2020 on this matter written by the Secretary, AWBI is at Annexure 3. In this context please also see a letter dated 14th of August, 2020 emphasising that citizens showing compassion to animals should not be harassed (Annexure 4). This has been reiterated most forcefully and unambiguously by the Honourable Delhi High Court on the 24th of June, 2021. This order can be seen here: https://indiankanoon.org/doc/167511972/ At Annexure 5 is a report on this order in the Hindustan Times of 2nd July, 2021. At Annexure 7 is reproduced the conclusion of this order. We have always been following the AWBI Guidelines. Nothing illegal in that. Instead, the D Block RWA had acted highhandedly and broke the law when they stole the boxes and shelters. To compound this offence the SHO, NFC Police Station did not investigate the case at all. No attempt was made by the NFC police to even trace this truck or its driver despite having been given pictures, the number of the truck (# HR 55M 4133), and a recorded admission by the driver. Nor did they investigate the D Block RWA’s accounts to see how was the payment made. This is not the only irresponsible action of NFC Police. When the theft of new boxes, mattresses and blankets was reported to the SHO with pictures as evidence, he ignored it. Instead, he gave a wrong and misleading report to the Lt. Governor that these had been lifted by the MCD. Please see this astonishing lying, imprudent and irresponsible reply to the Lt. Governor. This is wilful neglect of duty. It is obvious that the police did not do its work justly and objectively. They have lied when they wrote that no theft has been reported. We had reported the theft of 6 boxes and destruction of two shelters. This report of the police to the Lt. Governor is below: Enter Grievance Number Mobile No. OR E-Mail ID. Grievance No 2021003275 Date of Grievance 01/03/2021 Complainant Name Romesh Bhattacharji Contact Nos. (Land Line),9818509052(Mobile) Category Online Entry by Citizen :: Complainant Address D 1008 New Friends Colony E-Mail ID 1bameduniya1@gmail.com Grievance Details On 24.1.2021 the D Block New Friends Colony organised a theft of six shelters, fifteen blankets and mattresses. The RWA has no authority or power to do so. These had been donated by South MCD on the 14th of Jan. A complaint was filed with SHO, NFC PS by my wife Shobhana Bhattacharji on the same day. SHO, New Friends Colony, police station has taken no action. Neither have they converted it into an FIR as was requested by my wife seven days or so later. The shelters, blankets and mattresses were taken by truck number HR 55 M4133 at about 11.00 hrs on 24.1.2021 (photo enclosed). Action Required : SHO, NFC, Police Station should be directed to convert the complaint of 24.1.2021 filed by my wife Shobhana Bhattacharji into an FIR. He should retrieve the stolen goods. Grievance Site Address D 1008 New Friends Colony S.No. Departmental User Locality Action Taken Status Contact Details Citizen Feedback 1 DELHI POLICE NEW FRIENDS COLONY 15/03/2021 An enquiry into the matter has been got conducted through ACP/New Friends Colony/SED. During the course of enquiry it is revealed that temporary shelter/ blankets and mats have been removed by MCD. No theft has been reported. Moreover, both parties have been directed to maintain peace in locality. Hence, no more action is warranted. Over R P MEENA Deputy Commissioner of Police 26825544 dcpsed@gmail.com -- :: -- : Enter Feedback Pictures # 9 & 10 will give an idea of the mob surrounding Smt. Shobhana Bhattacharji, Ms. Divya Puri and the Late Smt. Arti Puri leaning against a red car. Faced with such a frenzied opposition it is impossible that we could have raised our voices. We three were surrounded by the RWA mob abused and gheraoed.

Pic # 9 In the attached pendrive video it can be seen that all the shouting is being done by the RWA mob of at least 40 and more. That woman in the white coat (Picture # 10) had told Smt. Shobhana Bhattacharji that she will soon be dead.

Pic # 10 The RWA mob had surrounded the three of us. We were not shouting at all. Yet, the SHO, NFC Delhi Police reports that we were disturbing the peace by shouting loudly. And that both parties have been warned! Despite giving them several pictures and video of the mob attack the police did not even try to locate any of the shouting mob. Shri Ashish Gujral had protested in court on the 1st of December that he was not in Delhi when the attack and theft on the 24th of January, 2021 occurred. That is true. However, he was aware of what was to happen and had happened. Soon after a neighbour contacted Shri Romesh Bhattacharji saying that Shri Gujral and Smt. Radhika Gupta wanted a meeting. Moreover, earlier on the 12th of January he himself had organised removal of shelters with the help of one MCD Inspector Shri Upadhya. After Mrs. Maneka Gandhji MP scolded him and the inspector, Shri Gujral offered to replace the shelters. While he evaded doing that, the Inspector replaced the mattresses and blankets that he, with Shri Ashish Gujral, had removed. Shri Ashish Gujral, President of the so called (because he is still to show the registration number) RWA of D Block, NFC had mentioned at the hearing on the 1st of December, 2021 that one of his objections was that the shelters were 8blocking pavements. Pictures # 11 & 12 below show that such shelters (now there are only two) occupy less than 1/3rd of the pavement.

Pics # 11 & 12 Unlike, Shri Ashish Gujral’s guard house for instance. Picture # 13 shows it is occupying most of the pavement. There are many others in D Block, who have occupied pavements similarly and then also park cars on them (picture # 14). Shri Gujral’s objections to partially blocking of pavements by small dog shelters do not extend to himself and such people, who block them entirely and completely.

Pics# 13 & 14 However, there is at least one resident of D Block, who uses his own space for a guard house (picture # ). If he can do so others, including Shri Gujral, should do the same.

Pic # 15 This is not all. Please look at picture # 16 of a service lane in D Block being gated by some residents for private parking:

Pic # 16 Shri Gujral and the RWA find it convenient to feign ignorance of such flagrant abuse of laws, because they themselves are breaking them. The so called D Block RWA, of which Shri Gujral is the President, does nothing about huge guard houses and cars blocking pavements and service lanes being converted to private parking lots (Pics # 13, 14, 16 & 17). Picture 17 of the front of his house shows not only the guard house blocking the pavement, but also the ramp that he has made to park his cars across the pavement. This shows that Shri Ashish Gujral and the RWA that he is President of has no civic sense at all. They flout laws whenever its convenient for them, but if a small shelter for dogs is erected on a small portion of the pavement they object and riot. These encroachments by several residents of D Block impinge on the right of free movement of others on the side walks.

Pics # 17 The truth is that Shri Gujral and the RWA are against dogs. Despite the many incontrovertible rules by AWBI and court judgements. His boast of feeding them in NOIDA is unbelievable. He does not feed dogs outside his own house. We have to come from more than 500 meters to do so thrice a day. Incidentally, it is not possible to give coats to all the dogs in D Block as most tear them up during the warmth of the day, or when they get wet. At the last hearing Shri Gujral had mentioned that we had erected a tent in a ‘park’ to show his concern for the maintenance of the park. It was only a tarpaulin thrown over two branches to protect dogs from heavy rain for just two nights and one day last winter. In any case that park is so neglected that Shri Gujral, President of D Block RWA, though alert about harassing dogs and dog carers, is not bothered about people playing cricket, guli danda, football and volleyball throughout the day (picture #18), which has ruined the large D Block park. It’s a dust bowl and a dump.

Pic 18 Here’s a further example of his lack of interest in matters that concern the welfare of the residents. Four months ago, an electric light pole had fallen in the park, and it was giving shocks (picture #19). Only on the 6th of December after countless complaints by us to the MCD and DESU was the electricity cut. Shri Gujral and the RWA is not bothered.

Pic 19 Shri Ashish Gujral, Smt. Ritika Gupta and the RWA are basically against dogs. To show their dislike they will stoop to any kind of wickedness to vilify them despite court orders to be kind to stray dogs. This attitude is illegal and has to be checked strictly. None of these dogs in the Colony is a threat. All have ben sterilised. The pictures of a bite that Smt. Ritika Jain showed were done by a dog from outside the colony early in January. There were no incidents before and after. This is rather a long deposition but we want to prove incontrovertibly that the charges against of disturbing the peace are ridiculously false and that the D Block RWA has no consideration for dogs as has been demonstrated by the thefts of their shelters and blankets etc on 12th and 24th of January, 2021. We would like to stress again that on the 24th of June the Delhi High Court ordered that residents of Delhi have the right to feed stray dogs and give them shelters. Honourable Delhi High Court’s full Order on June 24th, 2021 is here- https://indiankanoon.org/doc/167511972/ Conclusions of this order are at Annexure # 7. Further, from time to time the Delhi Government issues instructions like this about the welfare of dogs, but Shri Gujral and the D Block RWA wilfully ignore them. They have to be forced to abide by them. If it is necessary we would like to call the following witnesses: 1- The then SHO, NFC Police Station posted on 24th January, 2021 2- Truck driver of truck # HR 55M 4133 that was hired on 24th of January, 2021 by the D Block RWA to steal the shelters. & 3- Owner of the above truck to bring the log book of the truck and cash receipts from 1.6.2020 to 1.3.2021. Ms. Divya Puri, C 795, New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110025 Shri Aditya Puri, C 795, New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110025 Mrs. Shobhana Bhattacharji, D 1008, New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110025 Mr. Inderjeet Singh, D 1030, New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110025. Dated: 16th of December, 2021 Annexures:

Last of all but most important is this video that shows the screaming insults that the dog lovers were subjected to on the 24th of January, 2021: Despite this evidence, the police has charged us for breach of peace!