A cat was killed by hanging it from a tree in Sarvashri Nagar under Hudkeshwar Police Station limits on Sunday. According to rumours, animal was killed over suspicions of witchcraft have created a stir in the locality. Hudkeshwar Police have registered a case against an unidentified person under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and other relevant provisions. Police are searching for the culprit. The incident came to light around 8 am on Sunday, Diwali day, when a local resident informed Rashmi Shekhar Masram (33), a volunteer with the Save Speechless Organisation, about the cat hanging from a tree with a rope around its neck. Masram rushed to the spot and removed the rope. She then took the cat to the District Veterinary Hospital for treatment.

 

However, doctors examined the animal and declared it dead. A post-mortem confirmed that the cat died due to asphyxiation caused by hanging. Following this, Masram approached Hudkeshwar Police and lodged a complaint. The incident has triggered panic among animal lovers and residents of the area. Rumours have also spread that the cat was killed as part of a suspected witchcraft ritual. This has created fear and curiosity among local residents. Police have registered a case against an unknown person and started an investigation to identify the person responsible for the animal’s death. The motive behind the incident is yet to be established.