KATRA, October 1, 2026 – In a significant crackdown on animal cruelty, the Jammu Animal Husbandry Department (AHD), with active support from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, confiscated 140 illegal metal spiked bits during a major awareness-cum-enforcement drive in the Katra and Shiv Khori areas of Reasi district. The seized torture devices, commonly known as “thorn” bits, are deliberately designed with sharp spikes to control horses, mules, and pack animals through immense pain by cutting into the sensitive gum and lip tissue inside the animals’ mouths.
The confiscation drive was part of a strict enforcement initiative ensuring that tourist ride operations and the hauling of goods around the prominent religious shrines do not rely on such abusive practices for profit. Officials removed the illegal devices from the animals and successfully replaced them with painless, smooth bits on the spot. The use of spiked bits is a direct violation of Rule 8 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animals Rules, 1965.
Dr. Yugal Kishore, Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu, emphasized that tourism and celebrations must never come at the cost of an animal’s well-being. “Spiked bits are cruel devices designed to inflict pain and cause injury, and their use constitutes malpractice. This drive was undertaken to provide relief to horses in accordance with the law, which strictly prohibits the use of spiked bits,” he stated.
PETA India officials, who have launched a nationwide campaign to eliminate the use of these devices, strongly condemned the practice. Policy Associate Chumki Dutta highlighted that spiked bits cause lifelong physical and psychological damage, often bloodying the animals’ lips and tongues. “We urge horse owners to abandon these illegal torture tools and appeal to the public to choose mechanized transportation or humane alternatives,” she added. PETA India is also aggressively campaigning for legislation to close existing legal loopholes that still permit the manufacture and sale of these devices, advocating for cruelty-free tourism and celebrations across the country.
Published by True Roots Media Network