Greater Noida Police has registered a case against unknown persons after taking cognisance of a complaint filed by an NGO about a viral video on social media purportedly showing a minor boy throwing a puppy from a high-rise onto the road leading to the month-old dog's demise, officials said on Sunday.
A complaint, filed by People For Animals (PFA) volunteer Surbhi Rawat, highlighted that the boy, aged around 9-10 years and residing in a high-rise tower, was captured in a video purportedly showing him committing the act.
The footage, circulated on social media platforms, purportedly depicted the boy callously picking up the helpless puppy, who was hiding with its siblings in a bush.
The first information report (FIR) stated that the footage circulated as a reel on a social media platform in the society egging on others to do the same.
The video clip shows that the boy, under alleged monitoring of an adult, ruthlessly picked the nearly month-old puppy, who was hiding in a bush with other siblings. The boy took the puppy towards the road even as the canine kept squealing and unsuccessfully trying to escape from his clutches, the FIR stated.
The desperate cries of the puppy did not deter the boy from throwing it from a height resulting in its death, the FIR said.
The FIR sought the kid's presentation before the juvenile court and checking of his mental state, the officials said.
"In the same society, just days ago, a person had intentionally crushed a puppy under his vehicle. Another puppy was found dead in suspicious circumstances. It was possibly poisoned. An autopsy will be conducted. The reason for such brutal actions against puppies is hatred spewed on the society's Whatsapp group. Kids nowadays have phones and get easily influenced by adults who indulge in fear-mongering and spread hatred towards stray animals throughout the day," Rawat told PTI.
PFA Trustee Ambika Shukla said it was worrying to see a child devoid of any feelings.
"It reveals a psychopathic tendency that must be dealt with urgently lest we find a monster in our midst. Those who hurt and abuse animals set a dangerous example that can lead to tragic consequences. Let us not pervert a whole generation with our own prejudices," she said.
Recently, Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale moved a private member's bill seeking amendment to Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with 'unanimous support' of the House, he said on 'X'.
"According to the current laws, punishment for inflicting cruelty on animals is only a petty fine of Rs 500. My bill seeks to amend the law and increase the punishment to people inflicting cruelty on animals to a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh and imprisonment of up to one year," he said.
Gokhale said the bill was out of responsibility to protect animal friends who cannot speak for themselves.
"Inflicting wanton cruelty on animals must have an exemplary punishment," he said.
