Telangana: 500 Stray Dogs Killed in Villages to Fulfill Panchayat Poll Promises

• Approximately 500 stray dogs were killed in Telangana villages within seven days, with 200 in Kamareddy district alone.
• Killings were allegedly carried out by elected representatives, including sarpanches, to fulfill promises made during gram panchayat elections to tackle the stray dog menace.
• Police registered cases against six persons, including five sarpanches, in Kamareddy and nine persons, including two women sarpanches, in Hanamkonda district.
• Animal welfare activist Adulapuram Goutham filed a complaint, alleging sarpanches hired individuals to administer poisonous injections.
• The Supreme Court is considering directing states to pay heavy compensation for dog-bite incidents and hold dog feeders accountable, citing lack of norm implementation.

Why It Matters: Telangana villages saw 500 stray dogs killed, allegedly by sarpanches fulfilling election promises, leading to police cases and Supreme Court intervention.