In another case of animal cruelty, a person was detained by the Lingaraj Police Station for allegedly killing five puppies and critically injuring another at Gosareswar Square in Old Town area of the Capital City.
The accused has been identified as Prafulla Rout, a driver by profession.
The injured puppy has been sent to OUAT for treatment and its health condition is stated to be critical, said reports.
The arrest has been made on the basis of the written complaint lodged by the members of city-based NGO 'Seva Hin Sankalp' at the Lingaraj Police Station on June 5.
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As per reports, Rout allegedly ran over his car on one puppy of June 3 and the next day he killed another four puppies and another injured while the stray animals were eating food from the roadside by running over his vehicle.
"He ran over his car over one puppy and the next day he ran over another five puppies leaving four of them dead. Another puppy is undergoing treatment at the hospital and is in critical condition now," alleged the complaint Bishal Batu who is also a member of 'Seva Hin Sankalp'.
Bishal alleged that when the members of his NGO opposed Prafulla's act, he hurled abuses at them and also threatened him of dire consequences.
On the other hand, Prafulla's family members refused the allegations and said that he mistakenly ran over the little dogs.
"He is an aged person. While returning from office tired at night, he mistakenly ran over his vehicle on the puppies. It was dark so he could not see them. We admit that killing animals is wrong," said Sulochana.
Meanwhile, Jiban Ballav Das, the secretary of People's For Animal Foundation said, "People convicted of crime against animals often get bail by only paying penalty. Unless the laws against animal cruelty is made stricter, the thinking of people won't change. The arrest of the person for killing the puppies is a lesson for the people committing the crime. Stringent action should be taken against him," he demanded.
(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)