Kerala: Man on the run in dog bestiality case held

KOCHI: The Kunnamangalam police in Kozhikode have arrested Zachariah, 48, a native of Kottayam who had been on the run from cops after seen raping a dog in a video clip.
The man was seen having unnatural sex with a dog in a WhatsApp video that was widely circulated across Kerala.
Humane Society International/India (HSI) had offered a reward of Rs1 lakh for information leading to the identification and arrest of the accused.
Zachariah, a carpenter by profession, was arrested by the police from Chingavanam in Kottayam on Tuesday where he had been hiding for the past two months.
"In most cases of alleged bestiality, lack of evidence helps the perpetrators and they go unpunished. In this case, a video taken by an eyewitness helped us to identify and arrest the offender", said a police officer.
Zachariah who originally hails from Kottayam had been living in Kunnamangalam for the past 18 years. He was reportedly staying away from his wife and two children.
"We congratulate the Kerala Police for their swift work. HSI hopes that there will be a thorough investigation and speedy trial against the accused", said Sally Kannan, outreach coordinator of HSI/India and animal welfare officer of the Animal Welfare Board of India.
Zachariah was produced before magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.