HYDERABAD: Reports of mass killing of stray dogs in Telangana have continued to emerge, with another 200 dogs allegedly poisoned to death in Pathipaka village of Hanumakonda district.
According to animal rights activists, the incident occurred about a month ago during the sarpanch election period but came to light only on January 25 after local residents alerted them to the burial of dog carcasses near the village.
This is the second such case reported this month from villages under the Shayampet police station limits. Earlier, on January 9, police registered an FIR after receiving a complaint that around 300 dogs were killed in a similar manner in Arepally village in the same region.
Since both cases fall under the same jurisdiction and are suspected to involve the same perpetrators, police said they will amend the earlier FIR to include details of the latest incident. “We will retrieve the carcasses and send them for post-mortem examination on Tuesday,” said Jakkula Parameshwar, sub-inspector at Shayampet police station.
In the Arepally case, police booked the village sarpanch, secretary and others under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, which deal with the killing and poisoning of animals by multiple persons.
Goutham Adulapuram of Stray Animal Foundation India said activists were informed of the latest killings on Sunday. “We suspect the dogs were killed by administering lethal injections. We visited the burial site and filed a complaint after inspecting the area,” he said. He added that preliminary interactions with locals suggest the killings may have been ordered by gram panchayat officials to fulfil poll-related promises.
Activists estimate that more than 1,000 stray dogs have been killed across Telangana in the past month. Reported cases have emerged from Kamareddy, Jagtial, Hanumakonda and Ranga Reddy districts. Those accused include several sarpanchs and ward members, with complainants alleging that candidates promised to address the stray dog and monkey menace during the recently concluded gram panchayat elections.
