Authorities in the southern Indian state of Telangana have launched an investigation after hundreds of stray dogs were killed across at least six villages in the past month.

Police say they have confirmed at least 354 killings so far and arrested nine people in connection with some of the cases.

Animal welfare activists have told the BBC that the dogs were either poisoned or given lethal injections, but police say they are waiting for forensic reports to establish the method used.

Villagers have said that the killings were linked to promises made by candidates during recent local election campaigns to get rid of stray dogs and monkeys.

The killings have come at a time when India is witnessing a larger debate about stray animals and the country's top court is hearing petitions about how to rid the city streets, including in the capital Delhi, of stray dogs. But killings on such a large scale are rare and have elicited outrage.

Stray animals - mostly dogs but also cattle and monkeys - are considered a persistent problem in many parts of India, where they are often blamed for attacks on people, crop damage and traffic accidents.

The problem is attributed to a combination of factors, including gaps in sterilisation and vaccination programmes, rubbish piling up, abandonment of animals, shrinking forest habitats and uneven enforcement of laws.

While stray dogs, in particular, are often enmeshed in the fabric of daily life, forming strong bonds with local communities, animal rights activists have frequently flagged cruelty towards them, warning that the country does not have strong enough penalties.

Telangana state minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka told the Hindu newspaper that the killings were "illegal" and "inhumane", warning that those responsible would face strict action.

The issue of how to handle stray dogs is also being debated at present in the Supreme Court.

In August last year, the court ordered authorities in Delhi and its suburbs to move all stray dogs from streets to animal shelters in just two months. After widespread protests, the court modified the order, asking for the animals to be immunised and vaccinated before being released back to their neighbourhoods.

Animal welfare groups argue that putting dogs into already-overburdened shelters is unscientific, while those seeking removal of stray dogs from public places say unchecked populations is endangering people's lives and livelihoods.

The killings in Telangana were spread across three districts and occurred between late December and mid-January. Police say they may have taken place over several days in each location.

In Kamareddy district, "244 dogs died and were buried in four locations", S Anil, a police sub-inspector, told BBC Telugu.

"Government veterinary doctors have conducted post-mortems and sent samples to the lab," said Anil, adding that council heads of three villages were found to be involved.

In Shayampet and Arepally villages near Telangana's Warangal city, police say 110 dogs were killed. Police sub-inspector J Parameshwar told BBC Telugu that nine people, including village council heads, have been arrested.

In Jagtial city, police are investigating a complaint that around 40 dogs were killed on 28 and 30 December but no bodies had been recovered so far.

Minister Seethakka told the Hindu newspaper that killing stray dogs under the pretext of population control could not be justified under any circumstances.

The government has issued clear instructions to all village councils to prevent a recurrence of such incidents, she added.

Animal welfare activists allege that the number of dogs that have been culled is much higher than what the police have confirmed so far.

Some residents, however, have defended the killings.

Raju (who goes by just his first name), the son of the Arepally village head, told the BBC that only rabid dogs were killed, saying they were diseased, aggressive and had caused road accidents and serious injuries.

Another resident, Vijay (goes by first name), said most villagers supported the decision, citing fears of dog bites and disease.

Telangana recorded nearly 122,000 dog bite cases in 2024, according to federal government records, but no dog bite-related rabies deaths were recorded in the same period.

The dog killings have coincided with other alleged incidents involving stray animals in Telangana, including a case reported by The Times of India in which several monkeys were found dead or critically injured after being allegedly tranquillised and dumped along a highway in Kamareddy district.