Police arrest Ishwardi govt officer’s wife over killing of 8 puppies

Police conducted a raid and arrested Nishi Rahman after she was implicated in a case over the incident

Police have arrested a government officer's wife suspected of killing eight puppies that were stuffed into a sack and drowned in a pond in Pabna’s Ishwardi Upazila.

Nishi Rahman, 38, was detained on Tuesday in connection with a case filed by livestock officials under the Animal Welfare Act, according to Ishwardi Police Station chief (OC) ASM Abdun Noor.

The arrestee is the wife of Hasanur Rahman Nayon, an Upazila-level officer at the Small Farmers Development Foundation. She is the lone suspect in the case.

Additional Superintendent of Police Pranab Kumar said she was arrested in a raid on a house near Rahimpur Girls’ School, where she had taken shelter after the case filed. She is expected to be produced before a court on Wednesday.

The incident came to light on Nov 1 after residents noticed a mother dog, known locally as “Tom”, searching frantically for her week-old puppies near the residence of the local Upazila administrator (UNO). Following the dog’s cries, residents discovered the puppies dead inside a sack on the bank of the Upazila Parishad pond.

Later, Upazila Parishad staff later alleged that Nishi had tied the live puppies inside the sack and dumped them in the pond late on Sunday night.

UNO Md Moniruzzaman said Nishi’s husband had been ordered to vacate his government quarters over the incident, and the couple moved out on Tuesday.

"The incident has created widespread discussion in the media and social media. Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akter called and asked to take necessary action over the heinous incident," said livestock officer Aklima Khatun.

“This type of inhuman act tarnishes the image of the country. No one involved in animal killing will be spared.”