India: "Pigeon stuffed" rocked launched by Congressmen, police register case

Several Congress workers in the town of Kovvuru in southeastern India launched firecracker rockets with two pigeons inside in order to greet the President of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Raghu Veera Reddy, Sunday. The footage shows men stuffing a live pigeon into a firecracker rocket before launching it in front of a crowd. It is believed the members of Congress thought the pigeons would fly away unharmed as the rockets exploded in the air. While they deny the pigeons were harmed in the process, animal rights groups say at least two pigeons were killed. Local police have registered the case under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. "We are studying the video footage. The culprits who put two pigeons in cones will soon be arrested," a police spokesperson said.