Bathinda Police Register FIR for Beating a Dog to Death, Following PETA India Intervention
After learning of a video that showed a man mercilessly beating a dog to death using a heavy bamboo stick on the streets of Raman Mandi in Bhatinda – PETA India and a concerned citizen, Sanjeev Goyal, worked with the Raman Mandi police station to get a first information report (FIR) registered. The Raman Mandi police station registered an FIR under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against the accused. The police are trying to trace the body of the dog to conduct a post-mortem examination.
PETA India recommends that perpetrators of animal abuse undergo psychiatric evaluation and receive counselling, as abusing animals indicates a deep psychological disturbance. Research shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals are often repeat offenders who move on to hurting other animals, including humans. A study published in Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal stated, “Those who engage in animal cruelty were [three] times more likely to commit other crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, assault, harassment, threats, and drug/substance abuse.”
PETA India –has long campaigned to strengthen the PCA Act, 1960, which contains outdated, inadequate penalties such as a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders (although the BNS, 2023 prescribes stronger punishments). In a proposal sent to the central government regarding an amendment to the PCA Act, 1960, PETA India has recommended significantly increasing penalties for cruelty to animals.
