AP Cong cadre tie pigeons with crackers, fire them

The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee's (APCC's) plummeting reputation nosedived further when its overenthusiastic cadre in West the Godavari district killed two pigeons by tying them with firecrackers and setting the crackers off.

While the workers were hoping that the birds would extricate themselves from the cone accompanying the crackers and flutter in the sky as a symbol of success, but things went awry. The bizarre incident reportedly took place in the Kovvur village on Saturday, where party workers were celebrating the arrival of APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy, accompanied by former minister Kondru Murali and Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao, as they crossed the rail-cum-road bridge across the Godavari. Party workers, who wanted to revive the age-old tradition of flying pigeons with firecrackers tied to them, stuffed the birds into paper cones and sealed them tight.

The cone on the top of the rocket was closed with cardboard sheet so the birds couldn't escape. However the cone caught fire, incinerating the birds. An NGO — People for Animals — has filed a complaint with the police and an FIR has been lodged against the state Congress unit for cruelty to animals.

“The culprits should be booked under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” said the NGO in a statement. The APCC and West Godavari District Congress Committee spokespersons refused comment on the incident.