Police and animal welfare activists in Telangana were left shocked after the remains of nearly 300 stray dogs were discovered in Shayampet and Arepalli villages of Hanamkonda district, in what is being described as a case of large-scale and deliberate animal cruelty.
According to police, the mass killing allegedly took place over a span of three days, between January 6 and 8. The incident came to light after local animal welfare activists alerted the Shayampet police, prompting an investigation.
Activists uncover disturbing details
Animal welfare activists Farzana Begum and Adulapuram Goutham visited the affected villages to verify reports of the killings. Based on preliminary findings recorded in the first information report, the dogs were allegedly killed using poisonous injections.
Police officials said two individuals were reportedly paid to administer the injections, leading to the deaths of hundreds of stray animals. Initial evidence suggests the killings were carried out without any official authorisation or involvement of civic authorities.
FIR registered, several named
Investigators have so far named nine individuals in connection with the case, with at least one person booked under local animal cruelty laws. Police said phone recordings and witness statements collected by activists before the matter was formally reported contain alleged admissions of guilt.
The case has triggered widespread outrage among animal welfare groups, who have termed the incident one of the worst examples of cruelty against stray animals in recent years.
Calls for scientific and humane solutions
Goutham, who advocates for stray animal welfare, said mass killing is not only illegal but also ineffective in controlling stray dog populations. He stressed that proper implementation of animal birth control (ABC) rules — including sterilisation, deworming and anti-rabies vaccination — is the only scientific and humane solution.
“This tragedy could have been avoided if local authorities had implemented the existing rules in a timely manner,” he said.
Wider national context
The incident comes amid ongoing national debate over stray dog management. In August last year, the Supreme Court of India ordered the removal of stray dogs from parts of Delhi-NCR following a series of child mauling incidents. The directive was later modified to prioritise sterilisation and vaccination rather than relocation.
India is estimated to have around 60 million stray dogs and accounts for more than one-third of global rabies deaths, underscoring the need for sustainable and humane population control measures.