A 19-year-old from Bhanavta village in Pratapgarh, identified as Dinesh Meena, was arrested on Tuesday for animal cruelty after he posted a disturbing video on Instagram showing him beating a dog.
Using the Instagram handle “Dinu Timli”, Meena reportedly recorded the video with the intention of increasing his follower count and gaining social media fame, according to police officials.
The act surfaced when renowned animal rights activist and environmentalist Maneka Gandhi flagged the viral video to district Superintendent of Police Vineet Kumar Bansal on Sunday. After reviewing the footage, which clearly depicted the assault, SP Bansal ordered the cyber cell to investigate and trace the accused.
“The accused created this video solely to gain more views on his Instagram account,” said one of the officers involved in the investigation.
Authorities have condemned the act and reassured the public that such incidents will be dealt with strictly. Animal welfare advocates are calling for stricter enforcement against digital content that glorifies violence for internet fame.
