In Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi, three men were booked on the charge of cruelty toward animals for maiming a rat.
The Jhansi Police said in a social media post that a case was registered based on a written complaint received regarding a viral video of a rat being set on fire after petrol was poured on it. A video of the incident that happened in the Kotwali region was circulated on social media.
What does the law say?
Jhansi DySP Priya Singh said in a video message shared on social media that the accused were booked under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS, 2023), that relates to the offence of maiming an animal.
The relevant section says that "whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both".
'Compassion for living creatures'
Article 51A (g) of the Indian Constitution cites the need to "have compassion for living creatures". The BNS defines an animal as "any living creature, other than a human being".
Section 11 (1)(h) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, deals with another aspect related to mistreatment of animals. It refers to the punishable offense of failure to provide an animal under one's care with sufficient food, drink or shelter.
