Telangana Police Book 15, Including Village Heads, After 500 Stray Dogs Killed to Fulfil Election Promises

Telangana is witnessing one of its biggest crackdowns on animal cruelty after shocking visuals surfaced of stray dogs being killed through lethal injections, allegedly as part of a coordinated drive linked to local election promises.

Police say the deaths of at least 500 dogs across multiple districts in the first fortnight of the year have prompted criminal cases, official probes, and sharp judicial scrutiny.

Videos expose brutal killing of stray dogs

Disturbing footage from Dharmapuri municipality in Jagtiyal district shows a man injecting a stray dog with a lethal substance. The animal collapses within moments, while two other dog carcasses are visible nearby on the road. Officials say at least 50 dogs were killed in this municipality alone around two weeks ago.

In Hanamkonda district, authorities have exhumed 110 dog carcasses from various locations. A senior police official in Shayampeta confirmed that post-mortem examinations have been conducted on several bodies to establish the precise cause of death. Investigators believe the dogs were administered unidentified toxic substances, leading to instant fatalities.

Election promises under scanner

Police investigations suggest the mass killing was not random but allegedly planned to fulfil controversial promises made during recent Gram Panchayat elections. According to local reports, several candidates assured residents of creating a "dog-free village" amid rising complaints of stray dog attacks.

What is now being described as a massacre is being viewed by officials as a deeply flawed attempt to deliver on those pledges. The killings have sparked outrage among animal welfare groups, who argue that public safety concerns cannot justify unlawful and inhumane actions.

15 booked, including elected sarpanches

The Telangana Police have identified 15 individuals as key suspects in the case. Among them are seven recently elected sarpanches from villages in Shayampet, Arepally, and the Palwancha area. They are accused of authorising the culling operations.

Investigators say Gram Panchayat secretaries and staff members allegedly helped organise logistics and engaged professional dog catchers. Three private contractors were reportedly hired to carry out the killings using lethal injections and poisoned bait.

All 15 accused have been booked under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for killing or poisoning animals, along with provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. While some junior staff members have been detained for questioning, notices have been issued to the sarpanches. Officials stressed that "ignorance of the law is no excuse" and clarified that local bodies have no authority to override Central Government Animal Birth Control rules.

Supreme Court and state response

The controversy has put the Telangana government in a difficult position, caught between public anger over stray dog attacks and strict federal animal protection laws. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court expressed serious concern over what it described as an "institutional failure" in dealing with the stray dog issue. While warning states about "heavy compensation" in dog-bite cases, the court made it clear that killing animals is an illegal and unacceptable approach.

Following the registration of FIRs, the state administration issued a memo directing all District Collectors to strictly enforce the 2023 Animal Birth Control Rules. These rules mandate sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs, explicitly ruling out culling or forced relocation.

Police are now awaiting forensic reports to identify the exact toxins used. Depending on the findings, authorities may add further charges, including those related to illegal possession and use of hazardous chemicals.