Indian police detain goats over car damage

Three goats were detained after the police car was vandalised. Picture: AP

POLICE in India have caught and detained three goats after a brand new patrol car was allegedly vandalised by the animals.

According to a complaint, up to 12 goats who had been grazing near a police station in the southern Indian city of Chennai climbed on top of the new vehicle, denting it and causing damage to the car’s wipers and windscreen.

The paintwork was also scratched, incurring the wrath of the owner, city policeman Ganesh Babu who caught three of the goats and filed a complaint against the owner.

Upon investigation, the authorities could only find three of the animals, with police saying the goats had ‘crossed the line’ by attacking the brand new maroon Innova car.

Police added that the goats had a record of damaging vehicles belonging to residents and shopkeepers in the city, with an officer telling the Times of India newspaper: “We took the animals to the station and made inquiries about the owner.”

Mary Arogynathan, a 37-year-old local woman, is reportedly the owner of the goats, which were later given to the Society for the Protection of Animals for preventive detention.

A worker said that the goats seemed ‘healthier’, and were being fed grass twice a day.

Ms Arogynathan will have to claim ownership of the animals before police can turn the complaint into a ‘first information report’. Police plan to charge the woman with negligent conduct with respect to animals.

However, animal activists claim that police themselves should be charged for violating the City Police Act and Municipal Corporation Act of 1919 which bans cattle from the city limits.

Dawn Williams of the Blue Cross of India said: “When police saw the goats, they should have handed them over to NGOs like the civic body does.”

The other nine animals are reportedly still being sought.