CHENNAI: The price of animal cruelty in India just shot up. In a first of its kind penalty, The Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University has charged two students with a fine of a whopping 2 lakh each, for throwing a dog off a three storey building. The funds, a according to a circular by the University will be given to the Animal Board of India.
Most will remember the video of the heinous act was widely circulated on social media two months ago. Here's a quick recap for those who haven't followed the story since in first went viral on July 5. The female puppy that was later found to be injured but alive and was named Bhadra, and the animal is now recovered and well in her new home after adoption.
The culprits, Gowtham Sudharshan (who threw the dog off the rooftop) and his companion Ashish Paul fled who filmed it were initially 'missing' before they surrendered themselves to police and were later let out bail charges under Rs 50, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. They were later suspended from class by the college.
The sum to be coughed up by students has been jointly decided upon by a committee formed by the University consisting of Dr S V Senthilnathan, Dean of Students, Dr Parameswari Srijayanth, Controller of Examinations , G Kannabiran, Law Officer (Statutes) and the registrar (FAC). The committee was formed in response to a high court judge of the case filed by animal activists.
Chinny Krishna, vice chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India on hearing the news said he was delighted by the steps taken by the college to ensure that animal cruelty is treated seriously. "We plan to purpose the funding toward humane education for students, preferably at the college level, to ensure this kind of incident does not happen again," he said.