Theatre actor playing demon in Ramayana kills pig on stage, eats raw meat, arrested

In Odisha’s Ganjam district, a 45-year-old theatre actor named Bimbadhar Gouda was arrested for cruelty to animals after he killed a live pig on stage and consumed its meat during a Ramayana play. The incident, which also saw illegal display of snakes, led to statewide outrage and condemnation from animal rights activists and assembly members. Action was taken after videos of the act went viral. The police have arrested one of the play’s organisers and are searching for others involved in the public display of snakes.