Srinu

HYDERABAD: In a horrific case of animal cruelty, a worker of a mobile canteen on Road No 12, Banjara Hills , killed a puppy on Tuesday because he saw it quenching thirst from a tub kept at the canteen, meant for washing utensils. The accused worker, Srinu, 30, was taken into custody.

The shocking incident came to light after a college-going girl, who was waiting for a bus, first saw the hungry puppy, which was looking to eat something. “The girl wanted to feed the puppy from her tiffin box and while she was opening her tiffin, the puppy rushed to the tub to scoop some water. Srnu kicked the dog twice, held it by its ears and threw her in front of an auto coming in the opposite direction,” said Aanchal Khanna, an animal rights activist.

In a 26-second video, which the student posted and shared it on a WhatsApp group managed by People for Animals (PFA), an animal welfare organisation, the accused was seen working casually after killing the poor dog and looking into the camera without any remorse while standing a few steps away from the carcass of the animal that he killed.

“PFA volunteers rushed to the spot and later to the police station with a complaint. Cops responded immediately and arrested the accused. What came as a shock is the fact that a police official was present at the spot when the incident took place. But he did not try to stop the man from hurting the dog. Instead, he silently walked away from the crime scene,” said Khanna.

Following a complaint lodged with Banjara Hills police, a case was registered under section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming animals) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 11 of the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act.

