FIR Registered over Alleged Poisoning of Community Cats in Chennai Following PETA India Intervention
Following information about community cats dying of suspected poisoning in Bramavathi Street, Jafferkhanpet, Chennai, PETA India worked with the MGR Nagar Police Station to seek prompt police intervention and action against those responsible. Following PETA India’s intervention and continued follow-up, police registered an FIR against an individual in connection with the alleged poisoning of the community cats.
According to the local caregiver, community cats in the area had been poisoned repeatedly over a period of several months.
Acting on the local caregiver’s complaint, the MGR Nagar Police Station registered an FIR under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. PETA India has urged the MGR Nagar police to include Section 11(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, in the FIR.
Section 325 of the BNS, 2023, categorises mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming, or rendering useless of any animal as a cognizable 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, defines “cruelty” and makes the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering upon any animal a punishable offence.
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 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PETA India has long campaigned to strengthen the PCA Act, 1960, which contains outdated, inadequate penalties, such as a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders (although the BNS, 2023, which has now replaced the IPC, 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.
Community cats 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 good homes. The solution is simple: sterilisation 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.
