Hyderabad: Telangana Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) in Siddipet district following the alleged barbaric killing of a goat during Peddamma Bonalu celebrations in Khazipur village.
According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, the organisation received a video showing the unlawful killing of the animal and subsequently worked with Adulapuram Goutham of Stray Animal Foundation India (SAFI), the Commissioner of Police, Siddipet, and officials of Bhoompally Police Station to initiate legal action.
The video, which was uploaded on Instagram, allegedly shows several men restraining a goat by its legs while another individual repeatedly bites the animal's neck in an attempt to kill it. The incident reportedly took place in full public view.
Acting on a complaint filed by SAFI, Bhoompally Police registered an FIR under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Section 11(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
PETA India has also urged authorities to invoke provisions of the Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950, in connection with the case.
Praising the police action, PETA India Lead Cruelty Response Coordinator Sreekutty Raje said, “PETA India commends Siddipet Police, especially Commissioner of Police Rashmi Perumal, IPS, for her intervention in directing the registration of an FIR and sending a strong message that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.”
Raje further stated that animal sacrifice is not only an act of cruelty but also poses a broader social concern.
“Animal sacrifice is both cruelty to animals and a danger to society. It desensitises the public to violence and reinforces obsolete beliefs that hinder progress. Just as human sacrifice is now treated as murder, at a time when India is embarking on space missions and hosting AI summits, the archaic practice of animal sacrifice must end. It is a necessity for our societal evolution,” she said.
In its complaint, SAFI highlighted provisions of the Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950. Section 3 of the Act prohibits the sacrifice of any animal in places of public religious worship or adoration, their precincts, or during congregations and processions associated with religious worship on public streets.
Section 4 bars any individual from officiating, performing, assisting, participating in, or offering to participate in animal sacrifices at such locations. Section 5 further prohibits the use of places of public religious worship and their premises for the purpose of animal sacrifice by persons in possession or control of such establishments.
The investigation into the incident is underway.
With IANS inputs