⭕️ Video evidence prompts swift police registration of case
⭕️ PETA India intervention leads to cognizable offence under BNS 2023
⭕️ Section 325 carries up to five years’ imprisonment
⭕️ Calls grow for immediate protective custody and veterinary care
Raipur : An alleged act of cruelty against two pet dogs in Raipur has led to the registration of a First Information Report under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, after video footage shared by a concerned neighbour drew the attention of authorities and animal welfare advocates.
According to information placed before the police, the footage purportedly shows the dogs being beaten, with one of them allegedly scalded with boiling water by its reported owner. Local volunteers Vanchana Laban, Dipesh Maurya and Urja Shringarpure visited the premises after the incident came to light and assessed the animals’ condition, expressing serious concern over their wellbeing.
Following a formal complaint by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, widely known as PETA India, officials including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), the Assistant Commissioner of Police and personnel at Khamardih Police Station were approached for immediate action. An FIR was subsequently registered under Section 325 of the BNS, which classifies maiming or killing of an animal as a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment of up to five years, or fine, or both.
Police have confirmed that the investigation is underway. PETA India has urged Khamardih Police Station to take the affected dogs into protective custody to ensure their safety and provide urgent veterinary treatment, pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Beyond the legal proceedings, the case has stirred wider reflection within the city. Allegations of violence against animals are not isolated concerns confined to private spaces. Legal experts and behavioural researchers have long observed that cruelty to animals can be an early indicator of broader patterns of aggression and desensitisation within communities. For this reason, enforcement of animal protection laws is viewed not merely as an act of compassion, but as a component of public safety.
The BNS provision invoked in this case signals a shift toward treating animal cruelty as a serious criminal offence rather than a minor regulatory lapse. By categorising such acts as cognizable, the law empowers police to intervene without delay, reinforcing the principle that animals are entitled to protection under criminal jurisprudence.
At this stage, the allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny. Yet the episode has already underscored a larger truth: how a society responds to the suffering of those who cannot speak for themselves reflects the strength of its institutions and the depth of its conscience.
As the inquiry proceeds, attention will remain focused not only on accountability in this case but also on the broader message it sends-that cruelty, whether against humans or animals, cannot be normalised, ignored or excused.
