City equine expert’s timely aid helped Shaktimaan

Uttarakhand officials had taken inputs from Dr Rajesh, Director of Chettinad Stud Farm and senior veterinarian, during a WhatsApp chat. As a result of repeated beating, Shaktimaan tumbled and broke his leg and is now undergoing treatment at the district veterinary hospital in Mussoorie. “Initially, when Shaktimaan was hurt, the local doctors were at hand to administer first aid. 

One of my friends, who works as the Collector, requested for help. I gave him some ideas. I told them that regular follow-up is required. The injured leg of the animal should be given time to heal. With proper post-operative care, I think Shaktimaan can walk again. 

There are many stud farms in and around Haryana and Delhi, so I am sure Shaktimaan is getting the best medical aid,” said Dr. Rajesh. Gauri Maulekhi, animal activist and member secretary of People for Animals (PFA), said that Shaktimaan’s prognosis is not looking too good. 

“Shaktimaan was operated recently. Now, we have a team of specialists led by world class equine expert Dr Feroz Khambatta here, who examined Shaktimaan’s condition today. Dr. Khambatta is yet to get back to me but the future looks bleak. 

Shaktimaan may need amputation as the external fixator attached by the vets at Pantnagar Veterinary College is not working. Once Shaktimaan undergoes amputation, he will be taken to the country’s only equine retirement home in Dehradun run by PFA,” she said. 

The brutal attack on Shaktimaan, which has been in the police force for the past seven years, has sparked a national outrage. A petition on Change. org calls for the suspension of Joshi for animal cruelty by Humane Society International: India (HSI India). 

N.G. Jayasimha, Managing Director of HIS India, said that the only way to ensure justice to Shaktimaan is to ensure suspension of the MLA. “The offender will be off with a fine of Rs. 50 or 100, which is hardly going to act as a deterrent. 

Hence, we launched the petition to ensure the person responsible for injuring Shaktimaan gets suspended. We will also be filing RTIs and have already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for Joshi’s suspension,” he concluded.