Authorities in the southern Indian state of Telangana have launched an investigation after hundreds of stray dogs were killed across at least six villages in the past month.
Police say they have confirmed at least 354 killings so far and arrested nine people in connection with some of the cases.
Animal welfare activists have reported to the BBC that the dogs were either poisoned or given lethal injections, but police are awaiting forensic reports to determine the method used.
Villagers claim the killings were linked to promises made by candidates during recent local election campaigns to remove stray dogs and monkeys from their communities.
The killings have ignited outrage amidst a broader dialogue in India regarding stray animals, particularly as the country's top court examines how to manage urban populations of stray dogs. Incidents of such mass killings are rare, leading to public outcry.
Stray animals—including dogs, cattle, and monkeys—are often considered a nuisance in many parts of India, with these animals blamed for attacks on humans, damage to crops, and causing traffic accidents.
The issues are exacerbated by inadequate sterilization and vaccination programs, the increasing abandonment of pets, growing waste, and insufficient enforcement of animal protection laws.
While stray dogs frequently become part of local societies, forming bonds with communities, animal rights activists have raised concerns about cruelty towards them and the country's lack of stringent penalties for such actions.
Telangana's state minister, Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, stated that the killings were illegal and inhumane, and warned that those responsible would face stern legal action.
Debates about handling stray dogs are ongoing in the Supreme Court as well. In a decision last August, the court mandated that authorities in Delhi and the surrounding areas relocate all stray dogs to animal shelters. After significant backlash, the order was altered to ensure the vaccinated animals would be returned to their neighborhoods.
Animal welfare advocates argue that relocating dogs to already crowded shelters does not address the root issues, while supporters of removal cite danger to the public posed by loose dog populations.
The killings in Telangana spanned three districts and occurred between late December and mid-January, with police indicating some events took days to unfold in each area.
In the Kamareddy district, 244 dogs were confirmed dead and buried. Investigations show involvement from council heads of several villages, with ongoing police inquiries into reports of around 40 dogs killed in Jagtial.
Despite the official figures, animal rights groups argue the actual number of culled dogs may be greatly underestimated.
Some villagers, however, defended the actions, asserting that only rabid or aggressive dogs were killed to minimize threats from bites and disease, highlighting the complexities around this deeply divisive issue.
In the context of these tragedies, a separate case emerged where multiple wild monkeys were allegedly fatally tranquilized and dumped, adding to growing concerns about animal treatment in the region.
