Representative image showing a dog.
Credit: Pixabay Photo
Bengaluru: A 38-year-old woman from West Bengal allegedly lived with the carcass of her dog for three to four days in her apartment in East Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura, as she was reportedly unaware on how to dispose it, the police said.
The incident came to light when neighbours of the woman, Triparna Paik, began noticing a strong odour coming from her apartment. A preliminary investigation revealed that Triparna had been living in the apartment for over six years and owned three dogs.
On Thursday, Triparna’s neighbours alerted the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) after hearing dogs crying and detecting a foul smell from her apartment. When officials arrived for an inspection, Triparna refused to let them in, prompting them to call the police.
Dr Rudresh Kumar KL, a veterinary doctor and assistant director at the BBMP’s Mahadevapura Zone, told the police that upon entering the house, they saw only two dogs, while the third was missing.
“Triparna lied, saying she had abandoned the Labrador on the street. But when we searched her room, we found the dog’s highly decomposed carcass,” Kumar stated in his complaint, adding that the dog appeared to have been dead for two to three days.
Kumar alleged that Triparna had tortured the dog to death and allowed the carcass to decompose, thereby risking the spread or outbreak of diseases.
In his complaint, Kumar also noted that Triparna had been issued a notice in January concerning her dogs’ health and hygiene. At that time, she had pledged to take better care of them. However, subsequent attempts to follow up with her were unsuccessful.
An investigator involved in the case told DH that it was too early to conclude or assume Triparna killed the dog, as no such evidence was found at the scene.
He also dismissed speculation about the dog being killed for ritualistic purposes, stating there were no such indications in the apartment.
An FIR has been filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) dealing with suicide threat, negligent acts, deterring a public servant from discharge of duty, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.