HYDERABAD, TELANGANA—The Telangana police have registered three separate FIRs across the districts of Kamareddy, Warangal (Hanamkonda), and Jagitial following the discovery of over 500 stray dog carcasses. The mass culling, which took place in early January 2026, has sparked national outrage and a fierce legal debate over the “politicization” of animal control.
1. The Scope of the Massacre
The killings were executed across several mandals, with investigators uncovering a disturbing pattern of coordinated extermination.
- Kamareddy District: Approximately 200 dogs were killed across five villages (Bhavanipet, Palwancha, Faridpet, Wadi, and Bandarameshwarapally) between Jan 10–12. Carcasses were found dumped in local water tanks and buried on the outskirts.
- Warangal/Hanamkonda: Roughly 300 dogs were poisoned in Shayampet and Arepally villages between Jan 5–9. Police have already exhumed over 110 carcasses for forensic analysis.
- Jagitial District: 30 dogs were poisoned at Dharmapuri Kaman. This incident was notably recorded on video, which subsequently went viral and led to the initial police reports.
2. The “Election Promise” Motive
Initial investigations suggest a chilling political motive behind the brutality.
- The Pledge: Sources indicate that during the December 2025 Gram Panchayat elections, several candidates promised voters they would make their villages “dog-free” to combat a spike in stray dog attacks.
- The Execution: Upon winning, the sarpanches reportedly hired private contractors—including an individual identified as Kishore Pandey (currently being tracked in Andhra Pradesh)—to administer lethal injections.
- The Method: In some cases, the poison was reportedly fixed to long wooden sticks, allowing the killers to inject the dogs from a distance.
3. Legal Consequences & Judicial View
The 16 accused, including 7 recently-elected sarpanches and several panchayat secretaries, face charges under both new and established laws.
Key Legal Provisions Invoked: | Statute | Section | Nature of Offense | | :— | :— | :— | | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) | Section 325 | Mischief by killing/maiming animals; up to 5 years imprisonment. | | Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act | Section 11(1) | Treating animals with unnecessary cruelty/poisoning. | | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita | Section 35 | Notices issued to the accused to appear for questioning. |
“It is distressing and inhuman,” said Shreya Paropakari of Humane World for Animals India. “Despite the FIRs, the accused have not been arrested because these are bailable offenses. This is a clear violation of the Supreme Court’s mandate on Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.”