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Nearly 100 stray dogs have been allegedly poisoned to death in Telangana’s Rangareddy district, triggering outrage. The carcasses of the dogs are yet to be retrieved.
The instance prompted a complaint from Stray Animal Foundation of India’s Mudavath Preeti. Based on Preeti’s complaint, the Yacharam police station registered an FIR under Sections 325 read with Sections 3(5) and Section 11(1)(a)(i) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act against three people. The complaint names Yacharam’s Sarpanch, Ward member and Village Secretary.
According to the complaint, the killing took place on January 19.
“During a phone conversation with another animal activist, Deepika Pingeli, a ward member claimed that the dogs were relocated. However, a second activist named Adulapuram Goutham, was told that the animals were administered anesthesia injections. Subsequent enquiries with villagers revealed that the dogs were in fact injected with poisonous substances,” Preethi alleged in her complaint.
A week ago activists working with Stray Animal Foundation alleged that nearly 500 stray dogs were allegedly killed and buried in different parts of Telangana. Subsequently, activists lodged complaints with police stations in Kamareddy, Hanamkonda, and Jagtial districts.
Most of the accused in these cases are newly elected gram panchayat leaders who had promised voters that they would solve the problems caused by stray dogs and monkeys in their villages if voted to power. A total of seven FIRs have been registered against Sarpanches over incidents of culling.
