Ghaziabad police have arrested 32-year-old Pradeep Kumar for allegedly beating a three-month-old puppy to death and throwing it from the terrace of a two-storey building in Ankur Vihar. The incident occurred on August 29, reportedly after Kumar grew frustrated with a litter of stray dogs defecating outside his home.
Neighbour Jyoti Sharma submitted CCTV footage of the act, showing Kumar striking the puppy with a stick before tossing it from the rooftop. When confronted, Kumar’s wife claimed the puppy jumped off the terrace on its own.
A senior police officer confirmed that initial investigations revealed five puppies and several stray dogs in the area. Frustrated with the dogs frequently defecating near their first-floor flat, Kumar allegedly took one puppy to the roof, beat it to death, and threw it down.
ACP Ankur Vihar, Gyan Prakash Rai, stated that an FIR was filed against Kumar under BNS Section 325 (mischief by killing or maiming an animal) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Kumar was arrested under BNSS Section 170 on Sunday to prevent further offences.
The incident highlights ongoing conflicts between residents and stray dog populations. The Supreme Court’s August 22 order on stray dog sterilisation and immunisation pointed out that lapses in implementing Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules have increased stray dog numbers over the years, contributing to bite cases and neighbour disputes. Last month, a Siddharth Vihar resident, Kamal Kishore Khanna, was also arrested for assaulting a woman feeding stray dogs in an undesignated area.
