EVERY dog must have its day, but one young pup in India landed her human companions in hot water after police raided a Covid-19 rule-breaking party staged for the coddled canine.

The lavish second birthday celebration cost 700,000 rupees (RM39,600), according to police, with an elaborate birthday cake and giant photo cut-outs of Abby, an Indian Spitz and the guest of honour.

Social media footage showed a crowd of people dancing in front of an ornate stage at the party last Friday, held in the western city of Ahmedabad, with their defiance of local social distancing rules eventually attracting the law’s attention.

“We got information about a big party going on, so we raided the venue,” said police inspector V.D. Zala.

“As per Covid protocol, it is necessary to seek permission before organising a party. The organisers are responsible for ensuring social distancing among guests.”

Three men were arrested for their role in staging the event, but later released on bail.

India recorded nearly 160,000 Covid-19 cases overnight, up nearly six-fold from a week earlier, in an infection surge driven by the fast-spreading Omicron.

Local officials watched the rapidly rising case numbers with alarm and some of the biggest urban centres in the country have moved to re-impose movement restrictions. – AFP, January 10, 2022.