Puppy Burnt to Death in Madhya Pradesh

Mandsaur: In a bizarre incident, a puppy was charred to death in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur district on February 8.

According to reports, police have registered a case against unidentified persons based on a complaint filed by one Om Badodiya.

Meanwhile, Om Badodiya in his complaint alleged that nine puppies were killed in the incident that took place on Friday in Y D Nagar, however, the police have recovered one carcass so far from the spot.

The incident took place on a vacant piece of land in a residential area where some people burnt shrubs and bushes apparently to keep snakes and other animals away.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered on Sunday against unidentified persons under Indian Penal Code Section 429 (committing mischief by killing or maiming cattle or other animals), the official said.

Earlier, in 2020, Four puppies were burnt to death and two others survived with burns at Suryanagar, Sainikpuri.

The incident occurred when workers at a construction site set fire to some bushes to clear the place. The puppies were hiding in the bushes which was apparently not noticed by the workers.

According to a resident in the area, it was only when some of the puppies caught fire and ran out yelping in pain that they were noticed.

Meanwhile, the Centre on February 7, has prepared a draft to amend the 60-year-old Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Under the proposed amendment, the penalty could go up to Rs 75,000 or three times the cost of the animal with a jail term up to five years or both if an act of an individual or an organization leads to an animal's death.

The draft has proposed felonies in three categories - minor injury, major injury leading to permanent disability, and death to an animal due to cruel practice - and prescribed different penalties ranging from Rs 750 to Rs 75,000 and jail term up to five years for different crimes.

The current law orders a penalty between Rs 10 and Rs 50 for any act of cruelty such as beating, kicking, torturing, starving, overloading, overriding and mutilating an animal. It also has no provisions for different categories of offences for cruelty and abuse.

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