Arunachal Police Lodge FIR After Hanging, Beating of Dog
Police in Arunachal Pradesh's West Siang district have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified individuals for the hanging and beating of a dog to death. The case was filed on September 5 based on a formal complaint by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India).
The complaint followed the circulation of a viral video on social media that shows at least two men torturing a white dog. One man is seen holding a rope tied tightly around the animal's neck, while another strikes it repeatedly with a stick. The incident reportedly took place at Darka, a locality about 6 km from the Aalo police station, which serves as the district headquarters of West Siang.
Police have invoked relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The individuals named in the video have not been identified or arrested yet, and an investigation is underway.
West Siang Superintendent of Police Kardak Riba facilitated the registration of the FIR, and PETA India expressed gratitude to him and to Kurung Kumey SP Bomken Basar for their assistance. In a statement, PETA India's lead cruelty response officer, Sreekutty Bennet, said, “Violence against an animal often leads to crimes against other animals or humans.”
The organisation has recommended a psychiatric evaluation and counselling for the perpetrators, arguing that “abusing animals indicates a deep psychological disturbance.” To support this, PETA cited a study published in the Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal, which said that individuals who commit cruelty to animals are three times more likely to engage in crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, assault, harassment, threats, and drug or substance abuse.
Legal experts note that India's animal cruelty laws have been strengthened under the BNS, which replaces the colonial-era Indian Penal Code. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, remains the primary law addressing animal welfare. The case has drawn attention to the need for stricter enforcement of these laws, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
Police have appealed to the public for any information that may help identify the persons seen in the video. They have also urged citizens not to share the footage out of respect for the animal and the ongoing legal proceedings.
