Maihar Police Register FIR for Assaulting a Dog, Blinding Them in One Eye, Following PETA India’s Intervention
Following a complaint filed by a local resident with support from PETA India, Maihar police registered a first information report (FIR) against a man and a woman who were caught on video repeatedly assaulting a dog with a thick wooden stick as the canine writhed in pain, resulting in blindness in one eye and other injuries. An FIR was registered under Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, (IPC) and Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
PETA India recommends that the perpetrators undergo psychiatric evaluation and receive counselling, as abusing animals indicates 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. For example, Ameerul Islam, sentenced to death for raping and murdering Kerala law student Jisha, had a history of raping and killing dogs and goats. In a study published in 1998 in the Journal of Emotional Abuse of abused women who sought shelter at a safe home and who had companion animals, 71% confirmed that their partner had threatened, injured, or killed the animals.
PETA India has long campaigned for strengthening the PCA Act, 1960, which contains outdated, inadequate penalties, such as a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders (although the IPC prescribes stronger punishments). In a proposal sent to the central government regarding an amendment to the PCA Act, PETA India has recommended significantly increasing penalties for cruelty to animals.
