Pregnant dog, April, who was beaten to death, finally gets justice

A few days ago, a pregnant dog was beaten to death by two women in the Samantrarapur area. Despite several attempts by a city-based animal welfare trust, the dog couldn’t be saved as it succumbed to the injuries. Its two prematurely born puppies also died later. Naming the dog April, many animal activists started an online campaign to get justice for April. This campaign was supported by actress Anubha Sourrya and her mother, veteran actress Puspa Panda. Apart from them, several celebrities like actress Elina Samantray and singer Antara Chakrabarty also came together and joined the campaign to seek justice for April.

The online campaign had gained momentum and now, the commissionerate police of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack have registered a case and a notice has been served to the accused who performed this act of cruelty. In a reply to the campaign on Twitter, Anup Kumar Sahoo, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Bhubaneswar, mentioned that a case has been registered under Sections 268 and 429 of IPC and Section 11 of Cruelty to Animal Act at the Lingaraj police station. “The culprit has been identified. In view of the Supreme Court direction on arrest during Covid-19 pandemic, a notice has been served. A charge sheet against the accused will be filed soon,” said the DCP.