Landowners maim camel for straying onto crops

A camel's leg was allegedly amputated by landowners in Sukkur district's village Januji after it wandered into their farmland. The injured animal was then tied to a tractor and dragged, reportedly as punishment for grazing and drinking water from the fields.

The incident took place within the jurisdiction of Kandhra police station and came to light after a disturbing video went viral on social media, prompting immediate public outrage.

According to Muhammad Amin, the camel's owner, the accused brutally beat the animal, striking it on the face with sticks before tying it to a tractor and dragging it across the ground. A formal complaint was lodged by Ghulam Mustafa Shinbhani, naming Umer Malik, Qurban Brohi, and Rasool Bux Shaikh among the perpetrators.

The injured camel was treated at the Rohri animal hospital under the supervision of District Council Chairman Syed Kamil Shah, who submitted a report to the chief minister. The animal has since been shifted to a shelter in Karachi for further care.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident, terming the act "intolerable" and directing SSP Sukkur Azhar Khan to ensure swift arrests and exemplary punishment. Following his orders, Sukkur police launched a targeted operation. Two suspects, Qurban Brohi and Rasool Bux Shaikh, were arrested, while Umer Malik remains at large.

The case has drawn comparisons to a similar incident in Sanghar last year, where a landlord had chopped off a camel's leg under similar circumstances. That camel, later named 'Cammie,' was rescued and successfully rehabilitated in Karachi with the help of a prosthetic leg.

CM Shah reiterated the province's zero-tolerance policy for cruelty against animals and vowed to bring the remaining suspect to justice. "The culprits will face the full force of the law," he said.