Jagtial Dog Deaths: Activists Demand Post-Mortem as Police Deny Finding Carcasses
In Dharmapuri, Jagtial district, a troubling situation unfolds. Ten days have passed since reports emerged of approximately 30 dogs being poisoned to death. Yet, authorities have not conducted a post-mortem examination. Animal rights activists insist they showed officials where the carcasses were dumped. Police, however, maintain they found nothing at the site.
Police and Activists Clash Over Evidence
G Mahesh, the Station House Officer of Dharmapuri, stated clearly. "We could not recover any carcasses," he said. "Someone informed us that dog carcasses were dumped in a dump yard. We searched the area but found nothing. Therefore, we could not conduct a post-mortem."
Adulapuram Goutham filed the original complaint about the mass killings. He strongly disagrees with the police version. Goutham alleges that the post-mortem was not conducted even though carcasses were found. "We had to approach the court just to get an FIR registered," he added. "If the post-mortem is not performed, we will file a contempt case."
Background of Dog Bite Incidents and Rabies Concerns
Local officials point to a context of public health concerns. Both police and health department representatives from Jagtial district note several recent dog bite cases. These include one suspected rabies death. This situation may have pressured local leaders to take action against stray dogs.
G Sujatha, the District Medical and Health Officer, explained their ongoing efforts. "We are running awareness programs," she said. "We educate locals about the dangers of dog and monkey bites. Regularly, people come to take the anti-rabies vaccine after being bitten by dogs, monkeys, or cats."
However, Sujatha clarified an important point. She stated there has been no sudden increase in the number of people seeking treatment for bites recently.
Contrast with Other Districts: Post-Mortems Conducted Elsewhere
The Jagtial case stands in stark contrast to incidents in two other Telangana districts. In Kamareddy and Hanumakonda, authorities did conduct post-mortem examinations on dogs found dead. Reports from those examinations are expected within a month.
All three cases share a similar alleged method. Hundreds of dogs are said to have been killed by administering lethal injections. The lack of a post-mortem in Jagtial, however, leaves critical questions unanswered and fuels activist anger.
