Animal welfare activist gets death threats in Chennai | Chennai News

CHENNAI: M Vignesh, an animal welfare activist and founder of the Almighty Animal Care Trust, Sendrayanpalayam, found a machete hung on the signboard of the organisation with the word ‘WARNING’ written in bold letters on a piece of paper on Sunday evening.
It’s been more than three days since the incident, but the police have not filed an FIR still, though Vignesh has been attacked previously with a machete by suspected cattle traffickers.
“A CSR has been issued, but we don’t have anything other than the note and the machete to go by, and so are unable to file an FIR,” says Pennalurpet sub-inspector Nagaraj.
“I sent a written complaint to Pennalurpet police on the same day, and they arrived promptly. I hope they find the culprits,” says Vignesh, who is accompanied by a gunman at all times, as per a Madras High Court order.
Vignesh, 24, has been getting threats from the day he filed a case against illegal wildlife trading at the age of 17. It was in Nov 2023 that he was attacked first, while feeding dogs at his facility.
“An unidentified person on a bike asked me if I was the one who ran the organisation. When I said yes, he took out a machete and started chasing me. I immediately got into my car and was able to drive away, but I still don’t know who sent him.”
Illegal cattle traffickers are suspected in both incidents, as Vignesh has rescued more than 100 cattle from interstate trafficking in the last one year by filing cases.
“Some of the animals are housed in our sanctuary and some in other shelters and gaushalas. Return of property petitions were filed by the traffickers seeking the return of the cattle. But the Madras High Court gave a landmark judgement in Jan 2025, denying the return to the offenders. The court directed that the seized container truck should not be returned either.”
Following the 2023 attack on Vignesh, an FIR was filed but no one was arrested. “Even afterwards, there have been attempts to hit my car with a truck. Last year, the Madras High Court offered me police protection. There are more than 450 rescue animals plus staff in the sanctuary and their safety should not be compromised,” says Vignesh, who has now installed CCTVs across the shelter.