Protests erupted in a Greater Noida society on Sunday following an an FIR against unknown persons after a minor boy threw a month-old puppy off an high-rise building. Protesters complained about the rising cases stray dog attacks on residents of Avenue Gaur City-2.
Recently, a harrowing video of the minor boy – a resident of tower R-14, Avenue Gaur City-2 – throwing the helpless puppy off the high-rise building went viral on social media. A volunteer of NGO People For Animals (PFA) filed a complaint against the matter, following which the Greater Noida police filed an FIR.
The FIR stated that the boy, aged approximately 9-10 years, under alleged supervision of an adult, picked up the puppy from a bush and threw it mercilessly off the building. The FIR alleged that the the incident was captured on the video, encouraging others to follow suit.
However, the residents of the Avenue Gaur City-2 protested against the FIR and demanded that stray dogs be removed from the area. In a video shared on social media, the residents alleged that the dogs attacked children and adults in the society.
According to the FIR, the child should be presented before the juvenile court and his mental state should be tested.
"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," PFA volunteer Surbhi 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 animals friends who cannot speak for themselves.
"Inflicting wanton cruelty on animals must have an exemplary punishment," he said.
(With inputs from PTI.)
