10 dogs found dead in Manipal, activist files complaint over intentional 'poisoning'

Police have begun the search for an unidentified person accused of luring stray dogs with food that was allegedly poisoned.

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Police officials in Udupi district of Karnataka are investigating the death of 10 dogs, including a puppy, after their bodies were discovered in front of two apartments in Manipal on Tuesday.

The police have begun the search for an unidentified person accused of luring stray dogs with food that was allegedly poisoned.

On Tuesday morning, locals passing through Vidyaratna Nagar towards the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office in Manipal, discovered the bodies of 10 stray dogs. "While eight were found in front of Mandavi Emerald apartment, two were found near Mandavi Sovereign apartment, on the road proceeding towards the DC office in Manipal," Babita Madhwaraj, the founder trustee of Madhwaraj Animal Care Trust (MACT), said.

Citing eyewitness accounts of two students, the animal activist Babita, in her complaint to the police, said that on Saturday night, an unidentified person on a two-wheeler was found feeding ‘poisoned fish’ to the stray animals. “Among the dead included a puppy. The animals were friendly with the neighbouring residents and they were not aggressive. Moreover, they were sterilised. so such brutality was totally uncalled for,” she said.

The local police authorities have registered a case under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act as well as the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 428 and 429 (Mischief by killing or maiming animal) against the unidentified person. According to the officials, the bodies of the dogs have been retrieved and sent for an autopsy. The blood samples of the animals have been further sent for forensic analysis.

“After a preliminary inquiry, it looks like someone was trying to do away with the stray dogs in the locality, although we have never received any complaint from either the civic authorities or from the local residents about any stray dog issue,” the police said.

While the police have asked the two apartment associations to hand over the CCTV footage, the security cameras were reportedly not working for the last few days. However, the police added that they now have in their possession some CCTV camera footage from the surrounding commercial establishments, through which they may be able to identify the suspected bike and its rider as suggested by the complainant. “Beyond this, we are also inquiring with the locals if they have seen any suspicious individual in the vicinity,” he said.

Story by Story Infinity (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP.)