Balliguda Forest Division Registers Preliminary Offence Report for Killing of a Hanuman Langur, Following PETA India Complaint

After learning of disturbing videos published by an Instagram account revealing the killing of a hanuman langur, a species protected under Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972, PETA India worked with Shri Biswaraj Panda, Divisional Forest Officer of the Balliguda Forest Division of Odisha Forest Department to ensure that a preliminary offence report (POR) was registered.

The disturbing videos reveal a man beating the langur to death with a heavy stick. One accused person is first seen attempting to separate an infant langur from the mother with a stick, while the mother langur is tethered by a rope. He then starts thrashing a wooden stick on the adult langur’s head violently, about seven times, ultimately killing the animal. The infant langur is captured by the accused and displayed to children. He then picks up the dead mother langur’s body to show it off.

Based on a complaint submitted by PETA India, the POR was registered against the main accused under Section 9 of the WPA, 1972, on 22 March 2026. The offence is punishable with a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to ₹1,00,000 or both. Two accused, namely Manaba Mallick and Jayadeb Mallick, have been arrested by the forest division and presented before the Hon’ble Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Balliguda. The court remanded both accused to judicial custody for 11 days. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend any others involved in the heinous crime. The forest division is also making efforts to locate the captured baby langur.

In addition to jailtime, 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 were [three] times more likely to commit other crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, assault, harassment, threats, and drug/substance abuse.”

It is imperative for community members never to resort to violence in dealing with wildlife and to recruit the help of the forest department instead in case of conflict.