HYDERABAD:Close on heels of a medical student threw a dog from building terrace in Chennai, similar incidents took place at different places in Hyderabad.
While as many as six minors minors who were enjoying bonfire burnt three puppies alive by throwing in to flames in Musheerabad police limits, another person armed with a air gun killed a dog by shooting it in Nampally police limits. Both videos were posted on social networking sites of Facebook and went viral on WhatsApp.
A volunteer of People for Animals, an NGO based in Secunderabad, Shreya Paropkari noticed the video and lodged a complaint with the Musheerabad police.
In her complaint, Shreya stated that it is a two-minute long video in which some minors were enjoying bonfire and burnt the puppies alive by throwing them into the flames. In the incident, the three puppies died. The video has been circulating on social networking sites.
'It was heart wrenching to watch such a video and to see how people, especially minors, are attracted towards cruelty. The minors committed an offence by killing puppies while the another crime is that the others circulated such a video through various social networking sites and WhatsApp,'' Shreya said.
Based on the complaint, police have registered cases under section of 429 (Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal) of IPC and Section 11 (1) (a) and 11 (a) (L) of prevention of cruelty of Animals Act 1990.
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Musheerabad Sub Inspector B Ravi Kumar Reddy, who is investigating the case, said that a probe has been initiated to identify the miscreants. The incident took place on July 16 at the Pathan Basti of Musheerabad police limits.
'In preliminary probe, we have received information that some minors of the locality were involved in the incident. We have taken measures to remove the heinous videos from social networking sites,'' the Sub Inspector said.
A police team visited the Pathankot locality and questioned the locals in connection with the offence.
In another incident, an unknown person killed a dog by opening fire with a air gun at a premises. The video was also uploaded on Facebook and it went viral. Last Sunday, a person noticed the video and approached the Nampally police and lodged a complaint. However, police referred the complainant to visit Cyber Crime wing to lodge a complaint.
The Nampally Inspector K Madhu Mohan Reddy said that they received a complaint from a person but there was no clarity where the offence was taken place. In the video, a man killed a dog by shooting with air gun. As the video was posted on social networking sites, the complainant was referred to Cyber crime to lodge a complaint.
"In a shocking case of animal cruelty, seen in a video circulated on social media, carrying three puppies, approximately two months old, by their hind legs in the premises of a graveyard and burning them alive under a pile of dried branches, sticks and jute sacks. The puppies were seen struggling to escape while the culprits push them back and hold them down under the burning fire using poles," said Shreya.
Humane Society of International/India activist Navamita Mukherjee told Express that the puppy burning case in the city closely follows the now infamous case of a dog being thrown of a terrace by medical students in Chennai and a host of animal cruelty cases across the country including serial killing of dogs in Delhi, a bestiality case in Kerala and a case of puppy killing in Bengaluru among others. However, in most cases, the accused are able to get away with paying a meagre fine of Rs 50, the maximum penalty prescribed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
"It is surprising that the Government of India did not even bother to change it in the last 55 years. Our #NoMore50 campaign aims to revise the penalties for animal cruelty to amounts relevant to this day and age. It is a tragedy for this country that animal cruelty is not taken as seriously as it should be. Killing an animal, and in this case, several animals in this horrific manner, would be cheaper than hiring an auto rickshaw to the court to attend the trial,'' Navamita Mujherjee said.