On Sunday afternoon, an illegal horse-cart racing was seen taking place along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway. There were reportedly six carts in the race, each being hauled by two horses that their riders viciously thrashed to increase their speed, according to eyewitnesses who recorded it along the crowded stretch. Young people riding motorcycles, including girls, cheered on the motorcyclists in the meantime.
“I was returning from Thane in a car along with my friends on Sunday when we noticed absolute mayhem on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway around 5.30 pm. We saw an illegal horse-cart race on the recently inaugurated Versova bridge in broad daylight, an eyewitness told to a local news agency adding that a large group was following them on motorcycles, chugging beer and throwing the empty bottles on the stretch.
According to the eyewitness, none of the bikers were wearing helmets and their reckless riding caused a major inconvenience to everyone using the road. “The motorcyclists were also seen performing stunts on their bikes, while the women cheered the riders by standing on the footrests of the motorcycles in motion, with their hair blowing in the wind,” said an eyewitness who was heading from Thane to Vasai, adding that one of the youths also fell down amid the ruckus. Meanwhile, there were no policemen along the road, as the “entire stretch on the newly-inaugurated Versova bridge was blocked by the racers.
Animal rights activist Vijay Mohanani said that the Supreme Court as well as the Bombay High Court has banned the commercial use of horse carriages. “Yet they are seen near sea beaches in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts. We have been receiving several complaints from Uran and Alibaug areas and the local police have been apprised of this illegal practice. But, as usual, the complaints are not being heard,” Mohanani said.
According to Mohanani, people place bets on these illegal races which can be held only because government officials are hand in glove with the violators. “This is a big racket as people can make large amounts of easy money. When complaints are made, they disappear from the road. It is very surprising that the cops are unable to control such illegal practices which are happening in broad daylight,” Mohanani added. When news agency apprised Mira-Bhayander Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey about the incident, he said, “I will look into the matter.”
Devidas Handore, a traffic inspector from MBVV, police said that there were seven horse-carts and all of them came from Mumbai. “At least one rider was seated in each horse-cart and in one cart there was also a woman. They entered MBVV police jurisdiction in two lots… three carts crossed the Dahisar check naka at once and the remaining four carts followed them after a few minutes,” he stated.
According to Handore, a traffic constable had asked the riders where they were coming from and one of them said Malad. “At that time, it was not certain if the bikers were with them. But after a few minutes, the bikers joined the race. We have not given any permission for such a race,” Handore said, adding that they are checking with Mumbai traffic police officials to ascertain where the group came from. “Their movements are being tracked and strict action will be taken against them.”