Manhunt on for Indian student who threw a puppy from a roof in viral video

Warning: This post contains a graphic and upsetting video.

UPDATE: July 5, 2016, 4:05 p.m. EDT Sharavan Krishnan posted an update to Facebook, claiming that the dog has now been found alive.

Over the last few days, a disturbing video of an Indian man throwing a dog from a terrace in the southern city of Chennai has gone viral. Local police and animal rights activists have been trying to locate the man in the video, who has been identified as a medical student from a city college.

The horrifying 33-second video was shot in slow motion and shows the dog whimpering in fear as the man looks at the camera while holding it by the neck. He then throws the dog from the terrace, and the video ends with the dog's cries. The video was widely shared on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp over the last few days.

The man was finally identified as Gautam S, a final year student at Tamil Nadu's Madha Medical College by his classmates. The person who shot the video has also been identified, but both remain absconding. 

Animal rights activist Sharavan Krishnan revealed that the dog lost its life and later updated his Facebook page claiming that he had found the dog alive. He also said that the video was first uploaded two weeks ago, but when the college students recognised Gautam, he threatened them to keep quiet.

Several organisations have launched campaigns to nab the two. Humane Society International is also offering a reward of Rs 100,000 ($1,500 approximately) to anyone who gives information about the whereabouts of the man in the video.

There have been several incidents of cruelty towards animals, especially stray dogs in India in recent months. In March, a Bengaluru resident was arrested for killing eight puppies to teach their mother a lesson.

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