In a shocking incident in Hamirpur district, Uttar Pradesh, a man was arrested after a video surfaced on social media showing him throwing two live Indian cobras into a pile of burning hay, causing their brutal deaths. Authorities confirmed that the case has been registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The snakes, suspected to be Indian cobras, are listed as a Schedule I species under the Act. The offence has been filed under Sections 9, 39, and 51 of the Act, making it non-bailable. Conviction under these sections carries a sentence of three to seven years in prison along with a minimum fine of Rs 25,000.

The preliminary report was filed after the Hamirpur Forest Division, part of the Chitrakoot Dham Division, acted on a complaint coordinated by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India. Divisional Forest Officer Anil Srivastava, IFS, led the local team in initiating legal action against the accused.

Saloni Sakaria, Lead Cruelty Response Coordinator at PETA India, condemned the act, saying, “The cobras were forced to endure a painful, unnecessary death.” She praised the swift response of the Hamirpur Forest Division and urged the public to alert authorities rather than harm snakes when encountered.

The accused is currently in custody, and further legal proceedings are expected in accordance with the Wildlife Protection Act.