Police Register FIR for Assault on Dog in Gwalior, Following PETA India Intervention

After a news article revealed that a dog was savagely beaten with a stick in Ward No. 12, Gwalior, PETA India worked alongside the Inspector General of Police, Gwalior Range, Shri Arvind Saxena, IPS, along with officials at Bhitarwar Police Station, and local activists Rashmi Sahni, Advocate Rachna Chouhan, Ragini Chouhan and Renu Singh to ensure swift legal action. As a result, a First Information Report (FIR) was promptly registered under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

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(l)(l) of the PCA Act, 1960, makes the act of mutilating any animal or killing any animal (including community dogs) a cognisable and punishable offence.

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.”