Seven puppies found dead in west Delhi complex, police probe residents’ role

Police received a call regarding the puppies’ death by a female resident of Kargil Apartments in Sector 18A, Dwarka. They were rushed to a veterinary hospital where they were declared brought dead, a senior police officer said.

Seven puppies, believed to be between 30 and 40 days old, were found killed inside an apartment complex in west Delhi’s Dwarka Sector 18 on Monday morning. While the police are awaiting the autopsy report to determine what caused their deaths, apartment residents said the puppies appeared to have been killed with a sharp object.

The role of the apartment residents are being probed and the complex’s CCTV footage examined, police said. (AFP/Picture for representation)

A case of mischief by killing animals and under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act has been registered at Dwarka (North) police station and CCTV footage is being scanned, Anto Alphonse, DCP, Dwarka, said.

The bodies were found inside the compound of Vir Awas Kargil Apartments on Monday.

According to Hema Meel, a resident of the apartment, this was the second such incident in the last year. “Last year, some men had beaten a dog to death in our compound. They had later apologised for the act,” Meel said.

Meel said the apartment residents had been caring for 15 stray dogs, all of whom are sterilised. But over a 10-day period last month, two other stray dogs had jumped into the compound and given birth to 11 litters.

“We decided to care for the puppies and the mothers. Over the last 10 days, four of them died after coming under the wheels of cars or due to other causes,” Meel, an animal lover, said.

However, a number of factors caused the residents to believe the deaths were not accidental. “All seven puppies were new entrants. They were all laid down in a row, as though someone wanted to send out a message,” Meel said. She said the intestines of one of the puppies were pulled out while others had multiple cuts resembling wounds inflicted by ice picks or a similar tool.

The DCP said the bodies have been sent to a veterinary hospital to ascertain the cause of death.