FIR Registered for Beating a Dog to Death in Bhiwani, Following Intervention by PETA India and Smt Maneka Gandhi
After learning about a group of men in Bhiwani who mercilessly beat a dog repeatedly with bamboo sticks, resulting in the dog’s death – PETA India and Smt Maneka Gandhi worked with a local caregiver, Mr Sanjay Parmar of Bhiwani Gau Raksha Dal and Bhiwani police officials to get a first information report (FIR) registered. The Industrial Area police station registered an FIR under Section 325 and 238(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against one identified accused and other unidentified persons for killing the dog and disposing of the body, amounting to the destruction/disappearance of evidence. The postmortem of the dog will be conducted after the police locate the body.
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PETA India has long campaigned to strengthen the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, which contains outdated, inadequate penalties such as a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders (although the BNS, 2023 prescribes stronger punishments).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.
