HYDERABAD: In yet another incident of alleged stray dog killings in Telangana, nearly 100 canines were reportedly poisoned to death in Yacharam village near here, following which police have registered a case against a sarpanch and two others, officials said on Wednesday.
The latest incident comes amid a spate of similar cases, with nearly 500 stray dogs allegedly killed across different districts of Telangana since January 6.
An animal welfare activist associated with the Stray Animal Foundation of India lodged a complaint at the Yacharam Police Station, alleging that the dogs were injected with poisonous substances on January 19.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act against the sarpanch, secretary and a ward member of the Yacharam gram panchayat on Tuesday.
While the complainant claimed that around 100 dogs were killed, preliminary verification and inquiries with villagers confirmed the death of about 50 dogs, police said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Efforts are also underway to trace the carcasses of the animals.
Earlier, police in Hanamkonda district booked nine persons, including two women sarpanches and their husbands, in connection with the alleged killing of around 300 stray dogs in Shayampet and Arepally villages.
In a separate incident in Kamareddy district, around 200 stray dogs were allegedly killed, leading to the registration of a case against six persons, including five village sarpanches.
Investigators suspect that some elected representatives allegedly carried out the killings to fulfil promises made to villagers ahead of the gram panchayat elections held in December last year, purportedly to address the stray dog menace.
