50 stray dogs burnt alive near Chennai

At least 50 community dogs were burned alive at Keezhamur village near Melmaruvathur, about 50km from Chennai, on June 5. The dogs were sedated with food laced with pesticides. Police said a few villagers killed the dogs which allegedly attacked herds of sheep and goat.

The incident came to light after a villager informed an animal activist, P Aswath, who uncovered the tragedy four days later. Based on Aswath’s complaint, the Melmaruvathur police registered a case and booked - Murali, Muthu, Murugadoss and Jeeva – of the village in this connection.

Police said the villagers claimed a few community dogs injured a few sheep and goats when they were grazing. Some of the injured cattle died of dog bites later. 

However, Aswath said there were no traces of sheep and goat maimed or injured in a dog attack. 

“When I approached the village panchayat president and vice-president, they denied the killings,” he said. “But I have evidence to prove that more than 50 dogs were killed in the village.”