HYDERABAD, Jan 14: A major controversy has erupted in Telangana’s Kamareddy and Hanamkonda districts after around 500 stray dogs were allegedly culled using lethal injections over the past week to fulfill gram panchayat election promises.
Police registered cases against 15 people, including seven sarpanches across both districts. In Kamareddy, six persons — including five sarpanches — face charges for killing nearly 200 dogs in Palwancha mandal villages like Bhavanipet, Faridpet, and Wadi.
In Hanamkonda, nine individuals, including two women sarpanches and their husbands from Shayampet and Arepally villages, were booked for eliminating around 300 strays.
Candidates promised “dog-free villages” ahead of December 2025 elections to tackle stray attacks. Sarpanches allegedly hired contractors for lethal injections and poisoned bait, burying carcasses on village outskirts.
Veterinary teams exhumed bodies for post-mortems; viscera samples sent to FSL labs. Notices issued to accused under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Animal activist Adulapuram Goutham filed complaints exposing the culls. Supreme Court yesterday flagged poor stray animal management, considering compensation for dog-bite victims.
