Nearly 200 stray dogs were allegedly poisoned and buried in Pathipaka village of Hanamkonda district, bringing the state’s total to over 1,100 canine deaths in recent weeks amid allegations that some local officials acted to fulfil poll promises to curb animal menace.
In a stark and disturbing development, animal welfare activists alleges that around 200 stray dogs were killed and buried in Pathipaka village, Shayampet mandal, Hanamkonda district.
The killings are reported to have taken place approximately one month ago, but came to light only recently when local residents informed activists, prompting formal complaints to police.
According to the complaint lodged by A. Goutham, cruelty prevention manager with the Stray Animal Foundation of India, the canines were administered poisonous injections on orders of the local gram panchayat secretary before being disposed of in a graveyard.
Activists have urged that the carcasses be exhumed and examined to determine the substances used and establish liability.
Police at the Shayampet station have acknowledged receipt of the complaint and said it would be added to an existing FIR registered in connection with earlier dog deaths in the same jurisdiction.
Officers said they planned to retrieve the bodies and conduct post-mortem examinations as part of the investigation, which may involve charges under both the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
A State-wide Pattern Linked to Poll Allegations
The Pathipaka case is part of a broader wave of mass stray dog killings in Telangana over the past month. Verified reporting indicates that around 1,000 to 1,100 dogs have been found dead across multiple districts – including Hanamkonda, Kamareddy, Jagtial and Ranga Reddy in cases activists and residents describe as coordinated culls rather than isolated incidents.
In previous enquiries, police registered FIRs after complaints that around 300 dogs were killed in Arepally village in the same area, and cases in other districts have led to police naming several suspects, including sarpanches and gram panchayat secretaries.
Animal rights groups allege these killings were carried out to fulfil promises made during the December 2025 gram panchayat elections, in which some candidates pledged to tackle the stray dog and monkey problems.
Law enforcement sources have indicated that in some earlier incidents, veterinary teams were involved in exhuming carcasses and sending samples for forensic analysis to determine the exact cause of death.
Police have also emphasised that ignorance of animal welfare laws is no defence, and that local bodies have no legal authority to sanction such culls.
Public Safety, Animal Welfare and Legal Concerns
Telangana has been grappling with a significant stray dog population and rising reports of dog bite incidents, which have fuelled public anxiety in some rural communities.
However, animal welfare activists and legal experts stress that indiscriminate killing is unlawful and counter-productive to both public safety and humane animal management.
Under current Indian law, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, lethal culling and poisoning of stray dogs is prohibited.
Instead, sterilisation, vaccination and community-based coexistence measures are recommended to control populations while reducing conflict. Enforcement of these rules remains a key point of contention in Telangana and beyond.
The widespread nature of these killings has prompted condemnations from animal rights groups, some public figures and legal activists, who argue that systemic changes – including better implementation of ABC protocols and public awareness campaigns – are needed to address both safety and ethical concerns.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we condemn all forms of cruelty towards animals and emphasise that violence is not a lawful or ethical response to challenges of public safety or stray animal management.
The repeated allegations of mass poisoning, linked in several reports to political promises and local governance decisions, underscore a troubling disconnect between community concerns and humane, science-based solutions.
True progress requires compassionate enforcement of law, community dialogue, investment in sterilisation and vaccination, and shared responsibility between authorities and citizens.
Killing animals en masse, regardless of intent, erodes trust in institutions and diminishes our collective humanity.
