[Tragic] Shaktiman the horse dies. Mourning on Twitter

He might have had social media overwhelmed with love and compassion, but life has been duly cut short for Shaktiman.

The beautiful white police horse, whose left hind leg had to be amputated after it was attacked by BJP legislator from Mussourie, Ganesh Joshi, near the Uttarakhand Assembly on March 14, leading to a massive outrage, has died.

The bizarre display of cruelty caught on camera had caused much outrage on social media, with some even calling for a Shaktiman Act, curbing down brutalities against hapless creatures.

Though hope that Shaktiman would live had surfaced after he survived the amputation, it seems he couldn't make it through the fresh round of surgery on Wednesday on injured leg, which had become badly infected. Though attempts had been made to keep him alive, including flying down American doctor Tim mahoney to deliver a prosthetic limb for Shaktiman to walk, nothing worked at the end.

"The horse passed away at 5.30pm. He was suffering from medical-related complications. The exact cause will be known only after post-mortem," IG Garhwal Sanjay Gunjyal said.

Platitudes poured in from the political quarters with former Uttarakhand CM  Harish Rawat saying, "It was a brave soldier of Uttarakhand and died while performing its duty". Ganesh Joshi, who was arrested and later released on bail for the attack, had to say this:

Very sad. I already said that I am not at fault,if found guilty then cut my leg-Ganesh Joshi,BJP MLA on Shaktimaan pic.twitter.com/0qvdpDaZTe

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 20, 2016

Meanwhile, Union minister and BJP leader, Maneka Gandhi, has isued a statement urging the police to put an end to using horses and other animals in police forces. "I am deeply saddened by the death of Shaktiman. It is an extremely unfortunate incident. Horses should no longer be part of our police systems. 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 defenceless animal. 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," she said.

As expected, Twitter went into mourning for the brave horse.

Ride on, Shaktiman. RIP. pic.twitter.com/0NUZiz7ocE

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) April 20, 2016

Has @BJP4India gone back to the medieval era Irani offers "head" this brute who attacked #Shaktiman offers leg. https://t.co/UIWaYK3Kh6

— swati chaturvedi (@bainjal) April 20, 2016

An Innocent animal has paid with his life for an uneducated idiots' ire and machismo. #Shaktiman

— Mini Mathur (@minimathur) April 20, 2016

Horse scholar #shaktiman will not get justice till someone from bjp, anyone from bjp resigns..this is a communal murder..murder of democracy

— Adi (@reviewero) April 20, 2016

The horse is dead.Long live the horse-traders. #Shaktimanpic.twitter.com/Tj9OphZr1F

— Angiography (@angshukanta) April 20, 2016

Last snap of Shaktiman, Politics killed him. All culprits deserves severe punishment. Justice for #Shaktiman. RIP :( pic.twitter.com/0vLIl5k5w2

— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) April 20, 2016

What is sad about #Shaktiman the horse is the fact that he was not put down immediately after he became victim of sanghi barbarism.

— Brumby Mata (@brumbyOz) April 20, 2016

Brings to mind visuals of the MLA's relatives & followers celebrating Ganesh Joshi's release on bail #Shaktiman https://t.co/Sz9QGhwOKB

— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) April 20, 2016

RIP #Shaktiman ???????? we r sorry abt the inhuman humans amongst us ! https://t.co/2RGTOnwY3O

— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp) April 20, 2016

This is so unfortunate. A disgrace.R.I.P #Shaktiman !May you find a better world.

— Prateek Khare (@TweetsByPrateek) April 20, 2016

I'm sorry they put you through so much pain. I'm sorry you had to face all this brutality. I'm sorry you might never get justice.#shaktiman

— Manya Kumar (@manyakumar93) April 20, 2016