Following Complaints by PETA India and Others, Young Man Arrested for Running Over Dog

After receiving information that a young man residing in Ghatkopar reportedly killed a stray dog by purposely running her over in his car, PETA India worked with Shubham Mahadik, an activist campaigning for the welfare of stray dogs, and approached the Mumbai police, who filed a First Information Report against the alleged perpetrator under Sections 279 and 429 of The Indian Penal Code as well as Sections 11(1)(a) and (l) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The vehicle was impounded by the police, and the accused was arrested and later released on bail. The CCTV footage shows that he ran over the dog at first with his front wheels and then again with his rear wheels, killing her on the spot. This incident took place at around 3 am on 21 November.

According to mental-health and law-enforcement authorities, people who commit acts of cruelty to animals often move on to hurting humans. In a study of domestic violence victims, 60 per cent of women said that their abusive partners had harmed or killed their dogs or other animals.

PETA India has long campaigned to strengthen India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which contains outdated penalties, such as a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders. Several other recent cases of cruelty to animals have also shown the need for stronger penalties for animal abuse, including the following: a Mumbai man battered a kitten to death by hitting her with a bamboo stick and then smashing her against a wall, a Bangalore woman killed eight puppies,  Chennai medical students threw a puppy off a roof, and Vellore medical students tortured a monkey to death.

Please join us in calling for stronger penalties for animal abusers.