A 17-year-old youth from Edimbrough Estate, Nanuoya, has been remanded until 10 September after being arrested for brutally assaulting a dog and throwing it into the Nanuoya stream.

The suspect, identified as Mohan Sundaram Lakshan, was produced before Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Lankangani Prabuddhika on 28 September following his arrest by Nanuoya Police.

According to police, the incident occurred on 22 September when the dog belonging to a neighbour allegedly injured a kitten owned by the suspect. In retaliation, the youth attacked the dog with a stick, dragged it across the ground, and flung it into the stream that flows into the Kotmale Reservoir. Despite the assault, the injured animal managed to swim back home.

The suspect’s friend had recorded the attack on a mobile phone and later uploaded it on social media. The dog’s owner, upon seeing the footage, lodged a complaint with Nanuoya Police on 27 September. Initially, the matter was settled after the suspect promised to provide medical treatment for the animal.

However, the video went viral across social and electronic media, prompting police to rearrest the suspect on 28 September and produce him before court the following day.

Nanuoya Police OIC, Inspector W.D.C. Janaka, said an investigation is also underway to obtain a statement from the youth who filmed and shared the video.

Meanwhile, following media exposure of the cruelty, the Animal Welfare Forum sent a letter to the Inspector General of Police, with a copy to Nanuoya Police, demanding legal action against the perpetrator.

Executive Committee Member of the Forum, Gihan Dinushka, said a representative of the organisation visited the home on 28 September to check on the injured dog, which is still under care.