YouTube videos of animal killings result in criminal cases in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD: Recent incidents of animal cruelty, some uploaded on YouTube, have led to criminal action in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh following complaints by PETA India and allied organisations.

On Wednesday, a preliminary offence report (POR) was registered in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, after videos surfaced showing two Russell's Vipers being bludgeoned to death, and a hare trapped and killed in agricultural fields near P Kotakonda village, Devanakonda mandal. Snakes are protected under Schedule I and hare under Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

The POR was registered under multiple provisions of the Act.

These are non-bailable offences with punishments ranging from three to seven years imprisonment and a minimum fine of 25,000. The main accused was taken into custody by the forest department, which is continuing its investigation.In another incident on July 7 in Jakkapur village, Narayanraopet mandal of Siddipet district, a video showed a man biting a goat on the neck and tearing it apart with his teeth, assisted by others.

An FIR was filed at Chinnakodur police station after a complaint by Adulapuram Goutham of Stray Animal Foundation of India (SAFI), Hyderabad. The accused was booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Earlier on June 28, Adibatla Police in Rachakonda registered an FIR under BNS and PCA Act after five community dogs were allegedly poisoned in Sri Sri Aerocity. While four died, one survived due to intervention of a caregiver.

A post-mortem was conducted on one of the deceased dogs.Meanwhile, a central govt-appointed inspection panel on June 26 recommended immediate rehabilitation of over 1,200 animals at Palamur Biosciences in Mahabubnagar, following a PETA-led expose.