A police constable who has been charged with killing a pet dog has been absent from duty since November 1, a day before the incident took place in Nandambakkam.
St. Thomas Mount district police said Sukumaran, who is with the T. Nagar police district, had been absent from duty since Friday. That evening, he had consumed alcohol in the company of his friends to celebrate Deepavali. A while later, when he was drunk, Sukumaran picked up a 9-month old male pet dog, caught hold of it by its legs and smashed it on the ground, killing it and throwing it into a public well on Muthumariamman Koil Street.
Dawn Williams, general manager, Blue Cross of India, Chennai, said he visited the spot on Friday evening following information from an eyewitness. Sukumaran, the constable, lives on a nearby street, he said. Mr. Williams picked up the carcass of the dog and after lodging a complaint at Nandambakkam police station, took it to the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.
A case against Sukumaran has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 428 (killing and maiming of animal) and section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Police sources said no action had been initiated against Sukumaran so far.