A white stray dog, aged between 3-4 years, was shot and killed by an unknown assailant on Kazi Road, Gangtok, on July 19. The incident has sparked outrage among animal rights activists and the local community. The grim discovery was made by a local resident who informed People For Animals (PFA), Sikkim, an NGO chaired by Ms. Maneka Gandhi. Upon investigation, PFA members found that locals were unwilling to speak about the incident. Initial information shared in community groups suggested that the dog had been buried nearby. An anonymous source later revealed that the dog had been shot, prompting further investigation.
A case was registered at Sadar Thana, and the dog’s body was exhumed and sent to a polyclinic for post-mortem examination. Medical evidence confirmed that the dog had been shot in the chest. This was not an isolated incident, as the anonymous source indicated similar occurrences had happened in the area before. Animal activist Mr. Sagar Singh brought the case to the media’s attention. Mrs. Rebina Rai, a PFA member, registered the case and later took the dog’s body for burial at her residence in Assam Lingzey. PFA members have condemned the act and are working with police to seek justice for the innocent animal.
Ms. Maneka Gandhi has been informed of the incident and is in direct contact with SP Gangtok, Mr. Tenzing Loden Lepcha, who assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to find the perpetrator. “This incident should serve as a wake-up call for society,” said Mrs. Rebina Rai. “We may not need to advocate for animal rights or love every animal, but we must remember that it is not our right to harm them. All lives matter, even those of stray animals.”