Bhubaneswar: In a case of cruelty against animals, police Sunday detained a person for allegedly killing five puppies and injuring another critically at Gosareshwar Square in Old Town area in Bhubaneswar.
The accused has been identified as Prafulla Rout, a driver by profession.
According to a source, Rout had run his car over a puppy June 3. He again committed the same offence June 4 and this time he crushed four puppies to death and injured another under the wheels of his car. The puppies were then having food on the roadside.
Police action came after ‘Seva Hin Sankalpa’, a city-based NGO lodged a report at Lingaraj police station accusing Rout of killing four puppies and injuring one.
Bishal Batu, a member of the NGO, said when they met Rout and asked him why he had done so, far from feeling guilty for his act, he hurled abuses at them and also threatened them of dire consequences.
On the other hand, Rout’s family members coming to Rout’s rescue said he mistakenly ran over the puppies. They said it was dark and he couldn’t see the puppies. He did not do it intentionally.
The injured puppy is undergoing treatment at OUAT and its condition is critical, it was learnt.
Notably, a woman resident of Jagruti Vihar in Burla town of Sambalpur district poisoned six stray dogs to death May 28. Police registered a case against the woman June 2 and are investigating the case. Chairperson of PFA Menaka Gandhi had contacted the Sambalpur SP June 1 and had requested appropriate action against the woman under appropriate sections of Indian Penal Code as well as Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
PNN