Andhra Pradesh: Over 300 stray dogs poisoned in West Godavari village

VIJAYAWADA: A village panchayat in West Godavari has been accused by an animal rights group of ordering the killing of over 300 stray dogs by administering poison injection.
The inhumane and disturbing incident reportedly happened in Lingapalem area of West Godavari district in the last few days.
Sri Latha Challapalli, treasurer of Challapalli charitable trust which fights for animal issues, alleged that the village panchayat officials decided to kill the animals with the help of Dekkala community.
“The killings have been happening since July 24. A local panchayat worker has been tasked by higher officials to kill the stray dogs instead of sterilising them scientifically as per government guidelines,” she told TOI.
Sri Latha further said that she visited a burial site of the killed strays near a pond where an excavator was used to dig and bury the carcasses, after which she filed a complaint at Dharmajigudem police station.
Cops said they have received the complaint and have registered a case under section 429 r/w 34 IPC (mischief by killing or poisoning any animal) and relevant sections of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Police said they would conduct an autopsy of the carcasses to ascertain the cause of their deaths.
Meanwhile, preliminary investigation suggests the poison injections were purchased from a local pharmacy in the village.