500 dogs killed to fulfill poll promise; massive outrage follows in Telangana

In a shocking development that has drawn nationwide criticism, over 500 stray dogs were allegedly killed in Telangana villages in the past week, allegedly to fulfill election promises made by local leaders to eliminate the stray dog menace. 

Police have launched multiple investigations and registered First Information Reports (FIRs) against several village sarpanches and other individuals in both Hanamkonda and Kamareddy districts in connection with the mass killing.

According to police and local sources, the killings were carried out by administering poisonous injections to the dogs, a method that activists and authorities say is illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. 

Alleged Election Link

According to NDTV, the brutal killings are alleged to have been motivated by promises made during recent Gram Panchayat elections, where several candidates had vowed to tackle the stray dog problem in their villages. 

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Villagers frustrated by reported dog attacks are said to have supported these pledges, and local leaders are accused of attempting to deliver on those promises through unlawful means.

Discovery and Legal Action

Animal welfare campaigners first alerted authorities after discovering the carcasses of numerous dogs buried or dumped at village outskirts. 

In some cases, veterinary teams exhumed bodies for post-mortem examinations. Viscera samples have been sent to forensic laboratories to confirm the exact cause of death and the type of poison used.

Police have filed cases under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act against the accused, which include multiple sarpanches and associates believed to have coordinated the killings. Notices have been issued and investigations are ongoing. 

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Outrage and Wider Concerns

The incidents have sparked significant outrage among animal rights activists, citizens and legal experts, who have condemned the killings as inhumane and unlawful. Critics argue that addressing stray dog issues must be done through humane channels such as sterilisation and vaccination, rather than lethal measures. 

The matter has also prompted reminders from authorities that animal birth control (ABC) rules remain the legal standard for stray dog population management, and killing animals to fulfill electoral promises is unacceptable.