Delhi Police Register FIR Against Delhi Technological University Students for Scalding a Mouse to Death

For Immediate Release:

31 January 2024

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Delhi – After learning about videos showing that students from Delhi Technological University allegedly trapped a mouse in a small plastic box and poured boiling water on the animal, who succumbed to burns and other injuries from the heat, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India lodged a complaint with Police Station Shahbad Dairy. Subsequently, a first information report (FIR) was registered under sections 429 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, (IPC) and Section 11(1) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, against the students – who even mockingly organised a funeral for the mouse. The disturbing incident was brought to PETA India’s attention by a whistleblower, who posted videos depicting the killing and funeral on X (formerly Twitter).

“Those who abuse animals often move on to harming humans. For everyone’s safety, it is imperative that members of the public report cases of cruelty to animals such as this one,” says PETA India Cruelty Response Coordinator Sunayana Basu. “We commend Deputy Commissioner of Police Shri Ravi Kumar Singh, IPS, of the Outer North District, Delhi, for directing the registration of the FIR and sending the message that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.”

PETA India also recommends that perpetrators of animal abuse undergo psychiatric evaluation and receive counselling, as abusing animals indicates 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. For example, Ameerul Islam, convicted of raping and murdering a Kerala law student, had a history of raping and killing dogs and goats. A study published in the Journal of Emotional Abuse found that 71% of abused women who sought shelter at a safe home and had companion animals confirmed that their partner had threatened, injured, or killed the animals.

PETA India – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way” – has long campaigned to strengthen the PCA Act, 1960, which contains outdated, inadequate penalties, such as a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders (although the IPC prescribes stronger punishments).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.

For more information, please visit PETAIndia.com or follow the group on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.

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