A video of Arunachali singer Kon Waii Son is going viral in which the artiste is seen killing a chicken and then drinking its blood from a bamboo mug. The singer received massive backlash for the act, following which he issued an apology. However, based on a complaint by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India, an FIR was lodged against Kon Waii Son at the Itanagar Police Station on Monday.
The incident happened during a live performance in Itanagar on October 27.
In his apology, Kon Waii Son, whose full name is Konyo Waii Sonam, took full responsibility of the act and said that no one was involved in the act except him. He said: "Taking a moment to reflect and apologize for my actions during the recent event. What happened on stage was unplanned and solely my responsibility, with no involvement or awareness from the incredible organising and management teams. I never intended to promote any harm and deeply regret any discomfort caused. Learning from this and moving forward with respect and gratitude for everyone involved."
He said the "impulsive" act was done in the "heat of the moment". "My intent was never to promote or condone animal cruelty," Kon Waii Son said. In a video message, the singer acknowledged that the act was "cruel" and it was "wrong". He said every artiste has two sides — one which is a person and another, which is hyped on stage and is a performer.
Police said that the FIR was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. Kon Waii Son hails from Seppa in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng district. He is a songwriter, composer, and musician.