PTI

Kancheepuram, Jun 28: A donkey had to face court proceedings after it was used by an NGO during a protest demonstration against the district administration.

Makkal Manram, which had organised the protest on Monday to condemn the delay in issuance of land certificates to a tribal community, had used the donkey with a placard hanging on its neck written 'district administration'.

As revenue officials took strong exception to it and registered a complaint, police arrested the protestors and seized the animal under the sections pertaining to prevention of cruelty to animals and defilement of public places.

Police had also seized items including mats, loudspeakers and amplifier sets from the protest site.

When the 30 arrested people were produced before Judicial Magistrate I G Uthamaraj at his residence on Monday night, he remanded to them in custody and directed the police to keep the donkey in police custody and produce it in court next day as an evidence along with the seized items.

Police had to hire a van to produce the animal before the court yesterday. After completing formalities, the court ordered that the animal be handed over to its real owner.

The protestors were also released.