Telangana: FIR registered over goat killing during Bonalu in Siddipet
Synopsis
A viral Instagram video of a goat being bitten to death during Bonalu celebrations in Siddipet, Telangana, has led to an FIR — with PETA India now pushing police to add charges under a 1950 state law that explicitly bans public animal sacrifice. The case tests whether India's older prohibitory laws will be enforced when documented evidence goes viral.
Key Takeaways
An FIR was registered at Bhoompally police station , Siddipet district , Telangana, over the killing of a goat during Peddamma Bonalu celebrations in Khazipur village .
The case was filed under Section 325 of the BNS, 2023 and Section 11(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 .
A video showing men biting the animal's neck to kill it was posted on Instagram and triggered the complaint by SAFI and PETA India .
Commissioner of Police Rashmi Perumal, IPS , directed the FIR registration following the complaint.
PETA India has urged police to additionally invoke the Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950 , which bans public animal sacrifice at religious events.
Bhoompally police station in Siddipet district, Telangana, has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against individuals involved in the killing of a goat during Peddamma Bonalu celebrations in Khazipur village, following intervention by animal welfare organisations. The case was registered after a video of the incident circulated on social media, drawing widespread condemnation.
How the FIR Came About
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said it received a video showing the killing carried out in full public view during the religious celebrations. Working alongside Adulapuram Goutham of the Stray Animal Foundation India (SAFI), PETA India coordinated with the Commissioner of Police, Siddipet, to secure the FIR registration.
The footage, originally posted on an Instagram account, shows men restraining a goat while another individual repeatedly bites the animal's neck. Acting on SAFI's formal complaint, police registered the FIR under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Section 11(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
What the Law Says
PETA India has urged authorities to additionally invoke sections of the Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950. Under that law, Section 3 prohibits the sacrifice of any animal at any place of public religious worship or in any connected congregation or procession in a public street. Section 4 bars any person from officiating, performing, or participating in such a sacrifice, while Section 5 prohibits the use of a place of worship for animal sacrifice by anyone in possession of such a temple.
Police and Activist Response
PETA India's Lead Cruelty Response Coordinator, Sreekutty Raje, commended the Siddipet police, particularly Commissioner of Police Rashmi Perumal, IPS, for directing the FIR registration. 'PETA India commends Siddipet police, especially the Commissioner of Police, Rashmi Perumal, IPS, for her intervention in directing the registration of an FIR and sending the message that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated,' Raje said.
Raje further stated: 'Animal sacrifice is both cruelty to animals and a danger to society. It desensitises the public to violence and reinforces obsolete beliefs that hinder progress. Just as human sacrifice is now treated as murder, at a time when India is embarking on space missions and hosting AI summits, the archaic practice of animal sacrifice must end. It is a necessity for our societal evolution.'
Broader Context
This incident is not isolated — animal welfare organisations have increasingly flagged ritual killings at public religious events across India, and several states have enacted prohibitory legislation. The Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950, remains one of the older such laws, yet enforcement has been inconsistent. The Siddipet FIR, prompted by viral footage, underscores how social media documentation has become a key tool in animal cruelty prosecutions. Whether the additional sections under the 1950 Act are incorporated into the FIR will determine the strength of the case going forward.
Point of View
Rather than it being applied automatically, signals that the law exists largely on paper. If the stronger provisions of the Sacrifices Prohibition Act are not added to the FIR, the case risks being diluted to a minor cruelty charge with limited deterrent value. The real test is not whether an FIR was filed, but whether it leads to conviction — something India's animal cruelty cases have historically struggled to achieve.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Siddipet goat killing case in Telangana?
A goat was killed during Peddamma Bonalu celebrations in Khazipur village, Siddipet district, Telangana, with the act filmed and posted on Instagram. The footage showed men biting the animal's neck to kill it in public view, prompting PETA India and SAFI to file a complaint, leading to an FIR at Bhoompally police station.
Under which laws was the Siddipet FIR registered?
The FIR was registered under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Section 11(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. PETA India has additionally urged police to invoke the Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950.
What does the Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950 say?
The Act prohibits the sacrifice of any animal at any place of public religious worship, in its precincts, or in any congregation or procession connected with religious worship in a public street. It also bars individuals from officiating, performing, or participating in such sacrifices, and prohibits temple custodians from allowing their premises to be used for the purpose.
Who pushed for the FIR to be registered?
PETA India, working alongside Adulapuram Goutham of the Stray Animal Foundation India (SAFI), coordinated with Commissioner of Police Rashmi Perumal, IPS, of Siddipet to secure the FIR registration at Bhoompally police station.
Why is the Bonalu goat killing case significant?
The case highlights the enforcement gap around longstanding state laws banning public animal sacrifice. Despite the Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act existing since 1950, action was triggered only after a video went viral and NGOs intervened — raising questions about routine enforcement of animal protection laws during religious events.
