Международный скандал: индийские и непальские организации обвиняют друг друга в мошенничестве при спасении собак

Dehradun: What began as a viral rescue story of two injured golden retrievers purportedly swept away by floods in Nepal has snowballed into a cross-border dispute. The incident has ignited fierce accusations of fake rescue claims, suspicious motives and unauthorised public fundraising between animal welfare organisations in India and Nepal. Controversy erupted after Maharajganj resident Shahzad Ahmed posted a video on Instagram claiming that two injured dogs had been swept across the border during the recent floods in Nepal. The video, which is still on Ahmed’s Instagram, amassed over 1.5 million views, featuring an emotional appeal urging Nepalese animal welfare groups or the dogs’ rightful owners to step forward. Responding to the viral appeal, Tula Ram Rajbanshi—a veterinarian and founder of TFC (Thanks For Caring) Nepal, an organisation credited with rescuing over 4,000 animals in the country—travelled to Ahmed’s home. Rajbanshi took custody of the dogs and planned to provide emergency medical treatment before repatriating them. “As Ahmed had claimed that the two dogs were swept away from Nepal before being rescued by him, I was preparing to take them back with me after arranging some immediate medical care for the pair,” Rajbanshi told TOI from Nepal. The situation took a turn when representatives from Muzaffarpur-based Pyaru Nature & Life Care Foundation (PNTCF) arrived, demanding official documentation proving the dogs’ origins and ownership in Nepal. Rajbanshi argued that obtaining such paperwork was practically impossible given the catastrophic conditions on the ground in Nepal. According to Rajbanshi, PNTCF representatives insisted on taking custody of the animals until owners came forward with verifiable documents, promising local police that they would provide proper care. “They claimed that only they have experience in taking care of rescued animals and have the required facility for it in that area. After that, they were allowed to take them to Muzaffarpur. But now, they are posting videos on social media with false claims of rescuing the two and even seeking donations for them, which is completely wrong. They seem to be garnering social media publicity using the dogs which are now well known over the internet,” Rajbanshi alleged. When contacted, Aryaa Muskan of PNTCF denied the allegations of fraud and unauthorised fundraising. “We have several doubts on the claim that they were in Nepal. Considering the magnitude of the floods, it is impossible to digest that the animals survived and were washed away into India. Also, even if they were washed away, how come they were found together?” Muskan said. She added that the organisation remains committed to returning the dogs exclusively to verified owners who can produce official proof of ownership. Addressing accusations regarding financial exploitation, Muskan maintained that her group has not solicited contributions. “We have not sought even a single paisa,” she asserted. “We are taking care of the dogs along with medical aid from our own pocket. We just want to ensure that they return to their rightful owners, or else, we will make them available for adoption after their recovery to a caring family that they deserve.”