After a viral video clip showing Neha Kumari, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (DYMC) of the South zone, handling cattle owners with a baton made news, the official herself came out with the explanation for the action and the broader picture behind this.
Discussing the video from Dediyapada at Vatva, Kumari said the event took place on September 6. “There’s an AMC garden plot in the area where animals are kept. During a special drive there, the gates opened, and the animals came hurtling towards us. Reaching my vehicle became quite a challenge. It was scary,” she recalled.
Kumari continued, “Cattle owners are forewarned about our drives. Even after multiple warnings and outreach activities, they disregard the cattle control policy. They obstruct public servants’ duties. These biker gangs tail us during our operations. This particular drive involved three zones: South, East, and Central – notorious for issues related to the Cattle Nuisance and Control Department (CNCD). My actions were purely in self-defence.”
Kumari said, “Cattle owners have tactics to counter us. With their strong network, they move their cattle into porch areas, making enforcement tricky.”
This confrontation wasn’t her first rodeo. Previously, during a routine check, she had to lodge an FIR at Isanpur police station against a person unlawfully selling fodder in a public area. Upon her orders to confiscate the fodder, the seller tried intimidating her. In another instance, a team videographer was assaulted severely in Odhav.
Speaking on these challenges, she said, “These biker gangs believe that by doing this, they can shake our morale. They think their acts will force us into submission. However, we’ll be adopting more strategic measures. Such hurdles only make us tougher, pushing us to find better solutions.” Kumari expressed gratitude for the support she got from Municipal Commissioner, M Thennarasan, and also thanked the political wing for backing her.
She said, “Our team is committed to policy execution. We bear no grudge against anyone and wish no harm on livelihoods. We’ll simply be more vigilant.”
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