Ranbaxy takes possession of 50 beagles

NEW DELHI, March 21: Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has taken possession of the 50 beagles that are the focal point of animal-protection activists’ ire over the last few days. The beagles were imported by the company from New York and were under quarantine in the ministry of agriculture’s facility in Kapashera Village near Palam Airport here.

M Satyanarayana, the member secretary of the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals, yesterday wrote to the facility’s quarantine officer, Rajiv Khosla, asking why the dogs were released to Ranbaxy without clearance by the watchdog panel.

“I am surprised,” Satyanarayana wrote, “that you have released these dogs to Ranbaxy even before the expiry of the quarantine period. This is in gross violation of the quarantine requirements and also breach of trust.” A spokesperson for Ranbaxy said that a part of Satyanarayana’s letter dated March 18 had reached the company only yesterday evening, by which time the dogs had been transferred.She said quarantine officer Khosla had in writing confirmed that the dogs had indeed served their quarantine period and could be shifted.