Shaktiman, the Uttarakhand Police horse which was injured during a protest by the BJP in Dehradun, died on Wednesday.
The fractured hind leg of the 13-year-old horse had to be amputated following the incident. He was fitted with a prosthetic leg and kept under medical care.
"The horse passed away at 5.30 PM. He was suffering from medical-related complications. The exact cause will be known only after post-mortem," IG Garhwal Sanjay Gunjyal said.
The BJP has blamed the previous Congress government for Shaktiman's death, with party leader Ajay Bhatt alleging that the medical treatment was inadequate.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat also condoled the death of the horse, saying, "I am very saddended by the news of Shaktiman's death. We were so hopeful that he would join us in the next state parade but it is very sad that he will not."
The horse had suffered multiple injuries on March 14 during a protest march by the BJP against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat near the state Assembly in Dehradun. Shaktiman, part of the Uttarakhand Mounted Police, fell down during the protest after he was allegedly pulled down.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ganesh Joshi was accused of attacking the police horse and breaking its hind leg during a protest march in Dehradun. He was later arrested in connection with the case.
Joshi was also seen on camera trying to hit the horse with a stick. He, however, maintained his innocence claiming he was just trying to scare the animal.
Reacting to Shaktiman's death, Joshi said, "We are extremely saddened by the incident. And I am going there now. Whatever has happened was very sad. I had said earlier if I am to blame then they can take one of my legs, and I still stand by that statement."
He added, "The Congress party is playing very bad and unfortunate blamegame. This is not how it should be."
In a sharp reaction, Union minister Maneka Gandhi said, "Shaktiman was a police officer on duty and the person who put him through so much pain and ultimately killed him should be arrested for killing a police officer."
"Horses should no longer be part of our police system," she said, adding,"They serve no purpose and in every crowd engagement they are at the mercy of any vicious person who is too cowardly to do anything but injure the defenseless animal"
Shaktiman was a well trained horse and part of Uttarakhand Mounted Police for years.
(With PTI Inputs)
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