Delhi: FIR Registered for Beating Dog to Death Following PETA India Intervention

After learning through The RJ News that a man had beaten a dog with a stick, causing the dog to suffer and die six days later at Edna Foundation’s facility, PETA India filed a complaint with the Kalindi Kunj Police Station through a local activist Usha Verma.

Based on the complaint, a first information report (FIR) was registered against the culprit under Section 325 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. PETA India has submitted a representation to the police to add Section 11(1)(l) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, to ensure that the perpetrator of this crime is punished to the fullest extent of the law. Section 325 of the BNS, 2023 is a stringent provision that makes the maiming or killing of any animal a cognisable offence and provides for a jail term of up to five years, a fine, or both.

PETA India recommends that perpetrators of animal abuse undergo 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.”

PETA India has long campaigned to strengthen the PCA Act, 1960, which contains outdated, inadequate penalties, such as a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders (although the BNS, 2023, prescribes stronger punishments). In a proposal sent to the central government regarding an amendment to the PCA Act, PETA India has recommended significantly increasing penalties for cruelty to animals.