Criminal traits in kids burning pups ‘for fun’

HYDERABAD: “Just for fun” was the answer of the eight boys, when the police questioned them why they burnt alive three puppies at a graveyard in Hyderabad and filmed the act.

The Musheerabad police arrested eight minors on Thursday, charging them under Indian the Penal Code and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. They were produced in a local juvenile court, which remanded them to judicial custody. The boys were later shifted to a juvenile home.

“Obviously, it was a mischievous act without any prior planning,” Musheerabad subinspector Ravi Kumar Reddy said about last week’s incident. “The boys are from bastis near Dayakar Kaman, and were playing cricket in their area, where they found these two-month old puppies. They decided to have fun by setting them ablaze.

Psychologists, however, do not consider it a typical mischief by teenagers. “Their setting ablaze the shrieking pups, shoving them back into fire, laughing and capturing the cruelty on mobile phones shows a criminal tendency,” clinical psychologist Havovi Hyderabadiwala told HT. “They may turn hardcore criminals if not handled properly.”

The aggression and lack of remorse show the boys have no parental control, she added.

Hyderabadiwala suggested that the accused and their parents should be given counseling. “If necessary, the boys should be given medicines for treatment to change their behavior,” she suggested.

Endorsing her views, a top official at Blue Cross of Hyderabad said the manner of the killing revealed a lack of compassion in the boys.

“Obviously, they are not normal children. They are a threat to society,” said Nagam Pravallika, who is an Animal Welfare Officer with the organization headquartered in Chennai. “Today they killed puppies. Tomorrow, they may kill their neighbour’s children for fun,” she said.

Humane society international wanted a psychiatric evaluation of the accused.

“There is abundant research demonstrating that violence towards animals by children can be an indicator of to future antisocial behaviour of more serious nature,” said N G Jayasimha, the managing director of the nonprofit organisation’s India chapter. “In adulthood, the victims could be women and children.”