Panel recommends ban on ferocious dogs (GS Paper 2, Governance)
Why in news?
- An expert committee constituted by the Department of Animal Welfare and Husbandry, Ministry of Agriculture, has recommended that certain breeds of “ferocious dogs” be prohibited from being kept as pets.
Background:
- The expert committee was constituted after citizen groups complained of attacks on people by these dogs. There is also a petition being deliberated upon in the Delhi High Court requesting it to ban certain breeds.
- The High Court, in December 2023 had said it would decide on the issue “in three months.”
Details:
- The breeds include mixed and cross-breeds like pit bull terrier, tosa inu, American Staffordshire terrier, fila brasileiro, dogo argentino, American bulldog, boerboel, kangal, central Asian shepherd dog, caucasian shepherd dog, south mastiffs, rottweiler, terrier, rhodesian ridgeback, wolf dogs, canario, akbash dog, Moscow guard dog, Cane corso and dogs commonly classified as bandog.
- Dogs that have already been kept as pets must be sterilised to ensure that further breeding does not happen.
Implementation:
- The Centre has published the Prevention of Cruelty to the Animal (Dog Breeding and Marketing) rules, 2017 and the Prevent of Cruelty to Animal (pet shop) rules, 2018.
- The implementation of the rules is vested in local bodies and state animal welfare boards as well as the Department of Animal Husbandry.
Way Forward:
- An official letter has gone out from the department to all States listing out these dog breeds as well as instructions to no longer register licences that permit their sale.
How did Indians end up in the Russia-Ukraine war?
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Why in news?
- The deaths of two Indian nationals in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the recent raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which uncovered a human trafficking network recruiting Indians as “security helpers” and other personnel for the Russian military have sparked widespread concern.
- This has highlighted the plight of dozens of Indians stuck on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war after they were deceived into working with the Russian military under false pretences.
Details:
- The presence of Indians in combat roles on the Russian side, first surfaced in February 2024.
- Some Indian nationals, initially hired as “army security helpers,” were compelled to fight against their will after their passports and documents were seized.
- Approximately 100 Indians were recruited at the Moscow recruitment centre in the past year. However, the actual number of Indians hired could be higher, since there are several recruitment centres across Russia.
- All recruits had to sign a contract to join as “army security helpers.” The contract requires a minimum of one year of service and prohibits signees to leave or exit before six months of service.
How did the agents con people?
- A multi-State human trafficking network busted by the CBI in a crackdown on visa recruiters in seven cities across India revealed how Indian youths were allegedly pushed into the war zone by consultancy firms on the pretext of a better life and livelihood with the Russian military as security guards and helpers, as well as higher education.
- So far, the probe agency has found 35 instances of people sent to Russia and listed at least 17 consultancy companies spread across India who were involved in the trafficking.
- As per the CBI, the “organised network” lured Indian youth through social media and local agents, offering them highly paid jobs and lucrative employment opportunities in Russia.
- A number of students were reportedly tricked into enrolling in dubious private universities by agents promising low fees and visa extensions. Once the aspirants reached Russia, the local agents seized their passports and forced them to join the armed forces.
Way Forward:
- The Indian government is in talks with the Russian authorities about the early release of Indian citizens who were duped into working with the Russian military.
- Noting the findings of the CBI raids, the MEA appealed to Indian nationals not to be “swayed” by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian Army.
