Mass Killing of 300 Stray Dogs in Telangana Village Sparks Outrage
In a disturbing development that has sent shockwaves through animal welfare circles, approximately 300 stray dogs were allegedly killed in Jagtial district of Telangana. The incident, which occurred in Pegadapally village located about 200 kilometers from Hyderabad, came to light when numerous dog carcasses were discovered buried in a pit at the village border on Friday, January 24, 2026.
Village Administrators Booked Under Animal Cruelty Laws
Based on a formal complaint filed by Preethi Mudavath of the Stray Animal Foundation of India (SAFI), Telangana police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the village sarpanch and the gram panchayat secretary. The officials face charges under Sections 325 read with 3(5) of the BNS, along with Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
A Jagtial police officer confirmed to media outlets, "We have recovered a good number of dog carcasses. We have not ascertained who poisoned them." However, the complaint alleges that the killings were carried out following direct orders from the village administrators.
Alleged Political Motivations Behind the Killings
Sources indicate that the mass poisoning may be linked to recently concluded panchayat elections held in December 2025. It is believed that village administrations had promised to eliminate the stray dog menace as part of their election commitments. This incident follows similar patterns of stray dog killings across Telangana, including:
- 120 dog carcasses retrieved from two villages in Hanamkonda district
- 100 dogs recovered from Kamareddy district
- Reports of missing dogs from Yacharam village near Hyderabad
Animal Welfare Groups Criticize Administrative Apathy
SAFI has strongly criticized the district administration for what they describe as "apathy" in handling the case. Mudavath emphasized, "There is accountability as the district administration has not conducted postmortem of the carcasses to determine the cause of death." The organization argues that proper animal control measures, including sterilization and vaccination programs, should have been implemented instead of resorting to lethal methods.
According to the complaint, "The dogs were injected with poison and their food was also poisoned." Police authorities have acknowledged the severity of the situation and have initiated an awareness campaign to prevent further mistreatment of stray animals in the region.
This tragic incident highlights the ongoing conflict between human settlements and stray animal populations in rural India, raising serious questions about animal welfare policies and their implementation at the grassroots level.
