On August 5, the Cherpulassery police station in Palakkad district, Kerala, received a complaint about a disturbing social media post from the profile of a man named Shajeer, a resident of Madathiparambu in Cherpulassery. The video showed him brutally killing a cat—slitting its throat, skinning it, and then beating it to death with an iron rod. The police registered a case after an animal rights activist formally approached the station.
Shajeer, a lorry driver, has been charged under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for “mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal.” He has also been booked under Section 11(1)(l) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for mutilating an animal in an unnecessarily cruel manner.
To understand what such an act of cruelty—and the decision to share it publicly—might indicate psychologically, and how such cases should be addressed, THE WEEK spoke to renowned psychiatrist Dr. C.J. John from Kochi. Here are excerpts from the conversation.
Given that the accused in the above-mentioned case not only committed the act but also publicized it online, I’m reminded of the Netflix documentary Don't F*** With Cats, where a similar pattern of behavior eventually escalated to homicide. From a psychiatric perspective, how do you interpret such behaviour of not only showing cruelty to animals but also posting it on a social profile?
Even though the victim is an animal, this still should be considered a red flag, especially as it may indicate antisocial personality disorder or psychopathic traits. Because, actually, when such a person kills, there is an element of cruelty attached to it. And the individual seems to derive pleasure from that cruelty. That pleasure and the urge to showcase it—what is that, if not sadistic exhibitionism?
That’s why it has to be treated as a red flag, to assess whether he has antisocial personality traits or psychopathic tendencies. People who engage in such acts may need psychological evaluation and monitoring.
It’s also important to examine whether this person exhibited similar behavior toward other human beings before this. Many people with antisocial personalities show no remorse in doing such things. There is no guilt about having done something bad to another fellow human being. In fact, they often get pleasure out of it—a kind of sadistic pleasure.
So, could videos like these trigger copycat acts?
Yes, in people with similar traits.
Do you think such behavioral tendencies also reflect something deeply troubling about our society?
Unfortunately, our society seems to be growing desensitized—or even entertained—by cruelty. Whether in movies, web series, or news reporting, there's a growing emphasis on violence and cruelty, often portrayed in graphic detail.
In films, it's considered acceptable to show humans being beaten, but if an animal is harmed—even in a fictional setting—a disclaimer is required.
Earlier, news reports rarely included such gory details, whether involving humans or animals. While print media still maintains some restraint, visual media has increasingly embraced graphic portrayals.
There is a section of the population that seems to enjoy watching such content. That in itself is a warning sign—a red flag—from the audience's side.
There are people who not only copy such acts but also derive pleasure from watching them. And that’s likely one of the reasons this person posted the video—to gain attention or "likes."
What are the early signs we should look for to identify sadistic behavior?
Community awareness is crucial. We need to recognize such tendencies—whether in a child, teenager, or adult—where a person seems to derive pleasure from cruelty.
There have been instances of children pulling a cat’s tail, spinning it around, or even climbing on it. These children often show bullying behavior or other problematic traits. Pathologists have flagged such behaviors as significant.
In some cases, they may also be linked to treatable conditions, such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). When someone exhibits cruelty towards animals, derives pleasure from it, and even publicly posts it, it must be treated as a serious warning sign—especially in today's context.
There must be community-level awareness that individuals who display such tendencies need psychological evaluation. So, the solution lies in both community action and legal action—both are equally essential.