Andhra Pradesh Police have registered an FIR against a 65-year-old pastor accused of shooting and killing his neighbour’s pet dog. The incident took place on September 30 at Adiviraoulapadu below the boundaries of Nandigama police station in Vijayawada and was later revealed when neighbors complained to the police.
Police say Pastor Hamilton of the Seventh-day Adventist Church received notice after an FIR was filed against him on Sunday under Section 429 (mischief in killing or maiming livestock, etc. , of any value or any animal of the value of Fifty Rupees) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
According to his neighbor’s complaint, the pastor killed their pet dog around 6 p.m. on September 30.
“On Friday, the neighbor’s pet dog came into the pastor’s house and started barking. He had warned neighbors against this many times in the past. In anger, he pulled out his air pistol and shot the dog,” a police officer said.
Based on a complaint from the owner of the dog, a case was registered and an investigation was opened. “He is not arrested. He has been served notice and an FIR is on file. The investigation is ongoing,” the police officer said, adding that the air gun belonged to the pastor but that he had been no similar complaint of animal cruelty against the pastor in the past.