Kumar Gharti Magar has been posting videos on Facebook showing the torture of oxen and has admitted to implementing various suggested methods seen in the comments. According to Facebook’s content policy, it is prohibited to post photos or videos that harm, abuse, or show cruelty to animals. Facebook may take action against such content and the accounts posting them according to its policies. However, due to the viral nature of such content on Facebook, many individuals are replicating these acts, with the innocent animals suffering as victims.
Some have posted videos of giving alcohol to dogs, while others have tortured oxen used for plowing. In videos made by Kumar Gharti Magar from Pyuthan, he is seen torturing oxen during plowing. In one video, he presses the ox’s tail between two sticks. In another, the ox’s body is covered with mud. In yet another, he tightly blocks the ox’s nostrils, preventing it from breathing.
Watching the posted videos shows that one ox appears dazed while plowing. Magar shares such footage on Facebook, and viewers respond with comments recommending various ways to subdue the ox. He has admitted to punishing the innocent animals by following those suggestions. His actions clearly demonstrate the torture of the oxen. His videos have garnered significant attention, with one video showing the ox covered in mud receiving over one million views.
Animal rights activists have condemned his actions as illegal. According to senior advocate Padma Bahadur Shrestha, anyone who causes suffering to animals will be prosecuted under existing laws. Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 2073, individuals who subject animals to cruelty, torture, or unnecessary pain may face up to three months in jail, a fine of up to 5,000 rupees, or both.
