Dogs, our best friends, are at the centre of conflict in a tony Ahmedabad society called Samatva Bungalows in Shela locality. The residents of this society are divided right down the middle, as dog lovers, and dog haters.
Things have come to such a head over the past six years that the two groups have verbal and physical abuse, police complaints, and court battles. One such resident, Smita Prajapati, a human resources professional who belongs to the dog lovers’ group, has been asked to vacate her house by the opposition group.
Prajapati alleges that residents who are against her feeding stray dogs in the society are threatening to snap power and water supply to her bungalow. Garbage outside her house isn’t getting cleared, she further says.
THE SOCIETY
Samatva Bungalows consist of swank three, four, and five-BHK houses totalling over 300. This vast compound is also home to about 60 stray dogs. The society management has designated specified areas to feed these dogs and that’s where the conflict lies.
Prajapati and fellow dog lovers allege mental harassment. She says, “I’m being mentally harassed just because I’m compassionate towards dogs. Every alternate day, I get random notices from the society management. I’m unnecessarily fined around Rs 30,000 towards maintenance charges. The last five years of my life have been a constant struggle – I need to approach the police, lawyers, animal helplines, etc for help.”
Another resident, Vipul Parekh, a businessman, agrees with Prajapati. “The only conversation in this society is about dogs. Like Smitaben, I’m also on their radar because I’m a dog lover. If we lose this fight, then all the dogs in the society will be removed or killed. There is a lot of pressure on people like us because we are tenants,” Parekh says.
Parekh further alleges that the society chairman, during his campaign to win the housing complex elections, had announced that he will get the dogs removed from society if voted as chairman. Now, he is following his promise, Parekh says. “We will soon be approaching State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi to help us out,” Parekh says.
THE OTHER SIDE
Samatva Bungalows chairman Tejas Mehta, a businessman, says the dog menace had turned life-threatening. “Every 10 days we get reports of at least two dog bites in the society. Children cannot cycle around in society and adults venture out of their homes without a stick in hand because of these dogs. Smita Prajapati is misleading you. She did not mention that her husband Mahesh Prajapati was issued a show-cause notice for misbehaving with neighbours,” Mehta alleges.
Mehta says 11 managing committee members of the society have submitted a complaint against the Prajapati family for “creating nuisance”. “She is not the only tenant in the society; there are over 40 of them residing peacefully, but she is trying to gain sympathy by being a crusader of animals. We have given several warnings to them to stay in harmony with members. I was myself a pet parent–I had a Labrador– and we have dedicated spaces to feed animals,” Mehta says.
An inquiry at Bopal Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the society comes, revealed that a complaint had been filed against Mahesh Prajapati for alleged physical assault on a fellow resident.
The way things are poised, it appears residents of Samatva Bungalows are in no mood for a reconciliation.
