Around 100 dogs were allegedly poisoned to death in Yacharam village of Rangareddy district, located about 50 kilometres from Hyderabad.

The incident has caused outrage among animal welfare activists and comes just days after reports of nearly 500 dogs being killed in Telangana.

According to police, the mass killing was likely carried out by trained individuals. Investigators suspect the act was done on the instructions of the village sarpanch, along with his aides.

A complaint was filed by Mudavat Preeti from the Stray Animal Foundation of India, following which the police registered a case against three people, including the sarpanch.

The ward member and the village secretary have also been named in the complaint.

Police have booked the accused under Sections 3(5) and 11(1)(a)(i) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The killings reportedly took place on January 19. According to reports, after the dogs were poisoned, their bodies were buried outside the village. The sarpanch and two others have reportedly been arrested.

The matter came to light after villagers noticed that many dogs had suddenly disappeared. When questioned, locals reportedly gave different and conflicting answers, which raised suspicion.

Speaking on the investigation, SHO Nandeshwar Reddy said,

“We are investigating the matter seriously. We are trying to find the place where the dogs were buried."

The complainant alleged that the dogs were killed using poisonous injections. During a phone conversation, ward member Adulapuram Gautam reportedly revealed that the dogs were first given anaesthetic injections and then injected with a poisonous substance, which led to their deaths.

The police said the investigation is ongoing and further details will emerge once the burial site is traced.