Telangana police are investigating allegations of a mass killing of stray dogs in the state after reports emerged of at least 500 dogs being culled just over the last week.
They have taken legal action against at least 15 individuals which including seven village heads.
Local media reports say that the killings were allegedly to fulfil poll promises made during the gram panchayat elections.
The complaint was filed by Animal Welfare activist Adulapuram Goutham on January 12. He alleged that dogs, in large numbers, were being poisoned to death in villages Bhavanipet, Palwancha, Faridpet, Wadi, and Bandarameshwarapally in Kamareddy district. According to the complaint, about 200 dogs were killed in the last two to three days.
Gautham said that he received the information around 3 pm on January 12 and that village heads ordered the killings.
Police have registered a case against seven sarpanches and one man named Kishore Pandhey, who was allegedly hired to carry out the killings. Two more private contractors who were hired to carry out the killings have also been identified.
Gautham alleged that the dogs were being injected with lethal poison. He and his friends went to Bhavanipet to investigate around 6 pm the same day, and they reportedly found several dead dogs dumped near a temple.
Police confirmed that the bodies of the dogs were found buried outside the villages, and veterinary teams later dug them up for post-mortem examinations. In Hanmakonda, a senior police official in Shayampeta has confirmed that 110 dog carcasses have been dug out.
Samples have been sent ot the Forensic Science team to identify the poison used.
Videos have also emerged showing the alleged killing. In one video, a man from the Dharmapuri municipality in the Jagtiyal district is seen injecting a dog with poison. Moments later, the animal collapsed. Two other bodies were also seen on the street.
The 15 individuals who were detained have been booked under Section 325 (killing or poisoning of animals) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
