Six Puppies Killed by Being Thrown Into Well in Mirzapur, FIR Registered Following PETA India Intervention
After receiving CCTV footage showing a disturbing incident of the killing of six puppies by throwing them into a well one by one in front of their mother, PETA India worked with the Mirzapur police to ensure that an FIR was registered under relevant stringent provisions of the law.
The incident occurred on the night of 25 January in the Chunar area of Mirzapur, where a person allegedly threw six puppies into a well while their mother stood right beside him, around midnight, resulting in their death. A complaint was submitted to the Chunar Police Station on 1 February. Considering the gravity of the offence, PETA India worked with senior police officials in Mirzapur to get an FIR registered. Following the intervention of Shri Somen Verma, the Superintendent of Police (SP), Mirzapur, directions were issued to the Smt. Manjari Rao, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Chunar, after which the Chunar police station registered a
The FIR has been registered under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. Section 325 of the BNS, 2023, categorises the maiming or killing of any animal as a cognisable offence and prescribes a punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, or with a fine, or with both. Section 11 of the PCA Act, 1960, recognises acts that cause unnecessary pain or suffering to animals as offences and provides for penal action, including fines and imprisonment, against those found guilty of committing cruelty to animals.
PETA India recommends that perpetrators of animal abuse undergo a 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 to animals were [three] times more likely to commit other crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, assault, harassment, threats, and drug/substance abuse.”
PETA India notes that community dogs are often subjected to cruelty or struck by cars and commonly suffer from starvation, disease, or injury. Every year, many end up in animal shelters, where they languish in cages or kennels for lack of enough good homes. The solution is simple: sterilization and adoption from the streets or shelters. Sterilising one female dog can prevent 67,000 births over six years, and sterilising one female cat can prevent 420,000 births over seven years.
Cruelty to animals is often a warning sign of violent behaviour. In this case, the deliberate killing of six puppies shows a disturbing disregard for life. Actions like these must be taken seriously to prevent further harm. For the safety of everyone, it’s imperative that members of the public report cruelty to animals such as this one to the police.
