FIR Registered Against Alleged Dog Rapist for Killing Puppy in Ambala, Following PETA India Intervention
After receiving information about a disturbing incident involving the alleged killing of a community puppy by an alleged dog rapist, PETA India worked with local activist Vanshika Lamba and Ambala police to ensure stringent legal action.
The incident occurred on 2 February 2026 in Ambala Cantt where a man reportedly deliberately killed a community puppy out of revenge after some female dogs were rescued from his home who were being allegedly sexually abused. We worked closely with local activist Vanshika Lamba and Ambala Police. As a result, the Ambala Cantt Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on 3 February under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against the accused for killing the puppy. An investigation is underway with respect to the allegations about sexual abuse of female dogs in the custody of the accused. The rescued female dogs have been subjected to veterinary examination and samples have been drawn to confirm sexual abuse.
The prompt registration of the FIR by Shri Surendra Singh, Station House Officer, Ambala Cantt Police Station underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable for acts of cruelty against animals and the case reinforces that violence against animals is often a recurring crime.
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.
In 2021, the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations released a report revealing that in the decade prior, nearly 500,000 animals – including cows and dogs – were victims of crimes and many had been subjected to sexual violence. Previously, a Voice of Stray Dogs report calculated that the sexual abuse of animals was often underreported but likely committed at a similar rate to human rape cases.
Acts of cruelty to animals indicate a deep mental disturbance. Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals often don’t stop there – many move on to hurting humans. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has found that a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appear in its records of serial rapists and murderers.
Many violent criminals have a documented history of cruelty to animals. A study published in the Journal of Emotional Abuse found that 71% of women with companion animals who sought shelter from abuse at a safe home confirmed that their partner had threatened, injured, or killed the animals. A study published in Forensic Research and Criminology International Journal warns, “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. The major motivations for engaging in cruelty to animals include anger, fun, control, fear, dislike, revenge, imitation, and sexual pleasure.”
In India, Ameerul Islam, who was convicted of raping and murdering a Kerala law student, Jisha, had a history of raping and killing dogs and goats.
PETA India has been urging Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring an amendment in the BNS to specifically penalise sexual abuse of animals. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, punished sexual violence against animals, but there is no provision in the BNS that affords animals the same protection. Section 377 of the IPC regarded rape of an animal as a non-bailable offence and carried a punishment of “[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine”.
