Paying tribute to 'Shaktimaan, the Uttarakhand Police horse who succumbed to his injuries, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Sanjay Gandhi on Wednesday described him as a police officer on duty who went through so much pain that ultimately killed him.
"Shaktimaan was a police officer on duty and went through so much pain which ultimately killed him," Gandhi, who is also an animal rights activist, told ANI.
Demanding strict action against the culprit, the BJP Union minister said, "The culprits should be arrested for killing a police officer (Shaktimaan)."
Pitching strongly for exclusion of horses from police systems, she said, "Horses should no longer be part of our police system. They serve no purpose. And in every crowd engagement, they are at mercy of any vicious person, who is too cowardly to do anything but injure defenceless animal.
Shaktimaan, whose left hind leg was amputated after being allegedly attacked by BJP legislator Ganesh Joshi here last month, passed away on Wednesday despite all-out effort to save and rehabilitate him.
Howevwr, pleading his innocence yet again, Joshi said, "I am very sad. I have already said that I am not at fault; if I'm found guilty, cut my leg."
However, another BJP MLA Ajay Bhatt said, "The state government is to be blamed for Shaktimaan's death as the medical treatment was inadequate.
