FIR Registered Against a Man for Beating a Dog to Death in Dharashiv, Following PETA India Intervention
After learning about a man in Dharashiv, who mercilessly beat a dog on the head repeatedly with a bamboo stick, resulting in the dog’s death – PETA India and a local caregiver, Shivdarshan Gavhale, worked with the Lohara Police Station to get a first information report (FIR) registered. The Lohara police station registered an FIR under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and section 11(1)(l) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 against the accused. The postmortem of the dog was also conducted.
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 cruelty to animals 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PETA India has long campaigned to strengthen the PCA Act, 1960, which contains outdated, inadequate penalties such as a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders (although the BNS, 2023 prescribes stronger punishments).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.
