A case of “cruelty to animals” has been registered against the owner of a horse which died on Monday after it was found abandoned in a critical condition at the Bridge Parade Ground in Kolkata on May 7, police said.

The animal died due to severe dehydration and a spinal injury, it is learnt.

The police have launched an investigation into the matter and are trying to identify the animal’s owner.

The case was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act after an animal welfare NGO had filed a complaint against the horse owner on May 8.

“The young mare suffered a painful death after being abused and abandoned when it desperately needed care. The deaths of horses used for tourist rides in Kolkata are unacceptable. We urge authorities to put an end to this cruel practice through transition to electric vehicles,” said a member of the NGO, requesting not to be named.

According to sources, at least eight horse deaths were reported in Kolkata in 2024 alone, due to abuse and neglect. The investigation indicates that many working horses in the city are anemic, malnourished, overworked, and suffer from debilitating conditions caused by continuous work on hard surfaces.