Allegations of mass killings of street dogs have surfaced in Telangana, with reports that around 500 dogs were poisoned in the past week across several villages, allegedly linked to promises made during recent gram panchayat elections, according to PTI.
Animal welfare activist Adulapuram Goutham (35) filed a complaint on January 12, claiming that street dogs were systematically killed in villages including Bhavanipet, Palwancha, Faridpet, Wadi, and Bandarameshwarapally in Kamareddy district. He alleged that approximately 200 dogs were killed in just two to three days.
Goutham said he received credible information about the killings around 3 pm on January 12 and accused the local sarpanches of orchestrating the acts. Police confirmed that a case has been registered against six individuals, including five village sarpanches and a man named Kishore Pandhey, reportedly hired to carry out the poisonings.
According to the complaint, the dogs were injected with poison, causing their deaths. Later the same day, Goutham and a friend reportedly found several dog carcasses near a temple in Bhavanipet. Describing the killings as “intentional and cruel,” he demanded strict legal action against those responsible.
Authorities said the carcasses were initially buried on village outskirts but later exhumed for post-mortem examinations. “Viscera samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory to determine the cause of death and type of poison used,” a senior police official told PTI. Notices have been issued to the accused.
Village sources claimed that some elected representatives carried out the killings to “fulfill promises” made to residents during the December panchayat elections, targeting stray dogs and monkeys.
Earlier this month, police filed a case against nine people, including two women sarpanches, their husbands, gram panchayat secretaries, and hired individuals, over the alleged poisoning of around 300 street dogs in Shayampet and Arepally villages in Hanamkonda district between January 6 and 9.
No official comment was available from the accused sarpanches or village representatives at the time of reporting.
The allegations come as the Supreme Court recently indicated it may direct states to provide “heavy compensation” in dog-bite cases and hold dog feeders accountable, criticizing authorities for “failing miserably” to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules over the past five years. The court emphasized that dog feeders should bear responsibility for attacks, which can have lifelong consequences.
