Police in Punjab's Ludhiana district have taken a father and his son into custody following allegations of a vicious attack on a stray bull that resulted in the animal's death. The incident, which has sparked outrage, occurred in Aasi Kalan village under the Dehlon police station's jurisdiction.
The Gruesome Incident in Aasi Kalan
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the accused have been identified as Harnek Singh, aged 77, and his 38-year-old son Dharminder Singh. The police allege that on the morning of Sunday, around 8 am, the duo captured the bull, which frequently roamed the village area. They are accused of tying the animal's face with a rope and then repeatedly assaulting it with a sharp-edged weapon.
The brutal assault left the bull critically injured and bleeding profusely. Another villager, Gajjan Singh Gajjan Singh later filed a formal complaint with the Dehlon police and provided a video recording of the assault as evidence. Acting on this complaint, the police registered a case on Monday. ASI Dharam Singh, the investigating officer, stated that the accused were booked under specific sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include Section 325 (mischief by killing or maiming an animal) and Section 3(5) (criminal act by several persons in furtherance of common intention). Following the registration of the case, the police arrested the father-son pair. During police questioning, the accused presented a different version of events. They claimed that the stray bull had been aggressive and had tried to charge at them on multiple occasions. They also submitted a video purportedly showing the bull chasing Dharminder Singh to his house. The accused alleged that on Sunday, when the bull attempted to attack Dharminder again, they caught and assaulted it in retaliation. This case brings focus back to the legal framework designed to protect animals from harm. The primary legislation is the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act of 1960. Its Section 11 categorizes acts like beating, torturing, or cruelly killing an animal as punishable offences. Penalties under the PCA Act typically involve a fine for a first offence, with provisions for higher fines or imprisonment for repeat offenders. Additionally, the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) also holds provisions for criminal liability in cases involving the death or grievous injury of an animal. Enforcement mechanisms allow the police to register FIRs, seize weapons used in such acts of cruelty, and arrest the accused. The Dehlon police have stated that the investigation into this matter will proceed as per standard legal procedure.Legal Action and Accused's Defence
Laws Against Animal Cruelty in India
