cat Photo: VCG

A student of class 2020 at a university in East China's Zhejiang Province was reportedly punished for poisoning and killing over a dozen cats on campus. The disturbing incidents, exposed by netizens, have sparked widespread outrage and calls for punishment for the student. 

Recently, many netizens filed complaints on a government platform of Zhejiang Province, reporting that a student of class 2020, surnamed Yuan, majoring in food quality and safety at China Jiliang University (CJLU) in East China's Zhejiang Province, poisoned and killed over a dozen cats on campus.

The complaints alleged that there were over ten incidents of abnormal cat deaths at CJLU and another university campus from April 10 to April 27. According to complaints, Yuan checked the neighboring campus' living area in advance, then sneaked in at night to poison the cats. Additionally, Yuan purchased dangerous tools such as projection slingshots to use in public areas and poisoned cats with toxic water using helmets. He imprisoned the poisoned cats in a restricted-access computer room for up to five days, causing the entire area to be filled with a foul odor.

According to public reports, in the complaints, netizens emphasized that Yuan claimed on May 13, saying "I did it, what can you do to me" and "drowned them." "Every night I watch videos of cats convulsing, it's so cool," Yuan was reported as saying.

Yuan was reportedly active on cat-abusing internet forums and posted four posts, three of which were related to poisoning at universities.

Netizen said in the complaints that they have reported the case to the police, according to media reports. 

In response to the online complaints, the university said on Monday that it has noticed public feedback regarding the incident of cat death on campus. The university attaches great importance to this matter, conducts a thorough investigation, and has punished the student involved in accordance with the law and regulations.

In April, a student surnamed Guo who abused cats at the Yao Lake campus of Jiangxi Normal University, in Nanchang, capital of East China's Jiangxi Province, was expelled from the university for violating school rules and regulations.

Global Times