Following Complaints by PETA India and Others, a Man Is Arrested for Running Over a Dog
Following a complaint filed with local police by PETA India, Smt Maneka Gandhi (chairperson of People for Animals and a member of Parliament), and Mowgli Aid (a local animal protection group), a first information report (FIR) has been registered against a man for allegedly running over and killing a dog with his car. He has now been arrested. The FIR is registered under Sections 279, 290, and 429 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. The body of the dog has been sent for a post-mortem.
CCTV footage shows that a vehicle first ran over the dog with the front wheels and then again with the rear wheels, killing the animal on the spot. This incident took place on Thursday, 20 August, around 4 pm.
Section 429 of the IPC prohibits the mischievous killing of an animal, making the offender liable to be punished with a jail term of up to five years, with or without a fine. Section 290 deals with punishment for public nuisances, and Section 279 applies to rash driving on a public way. Section 11 of the PCA Act, 1960, lists acts which are tantamount to cruelty to animals.
“The case represents our fight for those who happen to be the most undefended subjects [on] our streets in India,” said Team Mowgli Aid.
Thank you @timesofindia @piyush_sarna for immediately covering this issue. FIR has been registered. This couldn’t be possible without the support of @Manekagandhibjp @asharmeet02 @piyush_sarna @PetaIndia @pfaindia pic.twitter.com/EBtChJHMce
— Mowgli Aid (@MowgliAid) August 22, 2020
Research shows that people who commit acts of cruelty against animals are often repeat offenders who move on to hurting other animals, including humans. In a study of domestic violence victims, 60% of women said their abusive partners had harmed or killed their dogs or other animals. PETA India has long campaigned to strengthen the PCA Act, 1960, which contains archaic penalties, such as a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders.
The pain and fear that this dog must have endured after he was hit are hard to imagine. PETA India commends the Mohali police for their swift action in booking and arresting the alleged perpetrator. We’re calling for the killer of this dog to be punished to the fullest extent of the law, including by receiving jail time.
