Itanagar: A disturbing video surfaced online showing artiste Kon Waii Son killing a chicken by slitting its throat and then drinking its blood during a recent Replay India Tour live performance in Arunachal Pradesh’s Itanagar.
Following the incident, Itanagar Police filed an FIR against Kon Waii Son based on a complaint made by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.
The FIR has been registered under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (cruelty), and Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
Kon Waii Son, who hails from Seppa in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng district, is a songwriter, composer, and musician.
“If you’re an artist who feels the need to resort to such tactics like cruelty to animals, then it’s time to consider another job. Real artists rely on their talent to get noticed,” says PETA India Cruelty Response Coordinator Sinchana Subramanyan.
Subramanyan hailed Itanagar Superintendent of Police Rohit Rajbir Singh for directing an inquiry into the matter.
“We thank the officer-in-charge of Itanagar police station, Khiksi Yangfo, for filing the FIR. This sends a clear message that animal abuse is unacceptable,” Subramanyan further added.
PETA India recommends that individuals who perpetrate acts of animal cruelty undergo psychiatric evaluation and counseling to address underlying psychological issues.
Research suggests a link between animal abuse and violence towards humans. A study published in Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal found that those who commit animal cruelty are “three times more likely to commit other crimes.”
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PETA India, whose motto includes “animals are not ours to abuse in any way,” advocates for strengthening The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The current law prescribes weak penalties, with a maximum fine of only Rs 50 for first-time offenders. PETA India has proposed significant increases in penalties for cruelty to animals in a proposal submitted to the central government.
